sharing stethoscopes?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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hi,

I'm taking a health assessment class and its required that we have are stethoscopes by this wednesday. the thing is that I ordered mines online and its due to come to my house by wednesday (while I'm at the class). I was wondering if there is something wrong with sharing a stethoscope with another person (germwise).

thanks in advance.

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It's fine, just be sure to swab the earpieces. I've had to share when I forgot my stethescope for clinicals.

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It's fine, just be sure to swab the earpieces. I've had to share when I forgot my stethescope for clinicals.

I made a game of watching my classmates who were sharing stethoscopes to see if they would keep swabbing the earpieces. The average "swab duration" was about two changes before they started forgetting.

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Specializes in PeriOperative.

In the well-baby nursery at in the hospital where I work, there are communal infant stethoscopes. Everyone swabs after every use (and not just the ear pieces).

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Retirement Residence.
I made a game of watching my classmates who were sharing stethoscopes to see if they would keep swabbing the earpieces. The average "swab duration" was about two changes before they started forgetting.

eeewwww:devil:

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dont worry about it. people forget their steths all the time and most people will even offer to let you borrow theirs. just swab it when your done.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

You'll be fine, just swab the earpieces (and I also swab the bell/diaphragm out of habit) with an alcohol pad before and after use.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Geeeeze, no no noooo. As an adult... well over 30, well 40 now... ten years ago, I never though twice about grabbing a 'scope to use... they are stolen all the time and we shared.

I got a wonderful ear infection, that failed 3 courses of ABX, the infection perforated my eardrum and I have permanent hearing loss in one ear... not a single high tone... most mid range gone... try to find the beeping vent or IV pump... yeah, it's swell... breath sounds from one ear, heart sounds.

My ear had pseudomonas!!!! yuck... borrowed an RT scope that was contaminated and I was not the only one.

I swear, please borrow them, but wipe off the ear pieces diligently. I now wipe my scope between each patient after that. My hearing loss is permanent and a wonderful reminder to ALWAYS protect my patient from it's germs.

Please, borrow them, but wipe them down!

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I definitely agree- wipe them down. :) Always... ALWAYS protect yourself!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.
Geeeeze, no no noooo. As an adult... well over 30, well 40 now... ten years ago, I never though twice about grabbing a 'scope to use... they are stolen all the time and we shared.

I got a wonderful ear infection, that failed 3 courses of ABX, the infection perforated my eardrum and I have permanent hearing loss in one ear... not a single high tone... most mid range gone... try to find the beeping vent or IV pump... yeah, it's swell... breath sounds from one ear, heart sounds.

My ear had pseudomonas!!!! yuck... borrowed an RT scope that was contaminated and I was not the only one.

I swear, please borrow them, but wipe off the ear pieces diligently. I now wipe my scope between each patient after that. My hearing loss is permanent and a wonderful reminder to ALWAYS protect my patient from it's germs.

Please, borrow them, but wipe them down!

this.

i got quite an ear infxn this past month. not from a steth but in ear buds for my ipod. never again.

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Specializes in Family Practice/IM/Pediatric.

Swab away, kiddo. No problem sharing. We all have to do it. What if your saving someones life and there's only one in the room????? HMMMM??

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I don't share mine...because many of them forget to clean the diaphragm or ear peaces.....and I would probably forget too. Unless, no one else has a stethoscope or there is an emergency.

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