Cardiology IV

barcode120x, RN, NP · Apr 10, 2019

I got some $12 one from amazon for school. It has heavy AF, but I could still hear heart sounds and lung sounds. But, if you have an expensive one already, might as well use it, but don't lose it!

TwinDaddy, CNA · Apr 10, 2019

I hear they grow legs and all

Duranie · Apr 11, 2019

16 hours ago, twindaddy75 said:
I hear they grow legs and all

They do ?... so make it a habit right from the start— you do not loan your stethoscope to anyone. Period. Make up a little white lie if you must?: “ I had such a hard time adjusting the angle of the earpieces, and if they are moved even the tiniest bit, it *really* hurts my ears, so I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

And if you are ever tempted to deviate from that practice, make sure you follow your ‘scope ... stick like Velcro to whoever is using it and the second it comes out of their ears, stick your hand out to get it back. (Doctors are the *worst* offenders— especially residents— but honestly they never really “outgrow” the stethoscope kleptomania. ?)

But seriously, the best thing is to never, ever, ever lay it down, or loan it to anyone. Also, if you are gonna wear it around your neck, get a fabric ‘sleeve’ for the tubing so your skin oils don’t wreck the tubing. You could also get a ‘scope holder for your pocket or waistband. Look on Amazon for “stethoscope holder” and you’ll find lots of different ones.

Good luck in school.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 19, 2019

On 4/10/2019 at 2:07 PM, twindaddy75 said:
So I'm not even in nursing school yet. The application period hasn't opened yet. My wife got me the stethoscope I mentioned. I did research on it and it's pricey. I would have thought to get a $50 stethoscope for school. She thinks that I'm too cheap on myself. Her "orders" are that the two things I shouldn't skimp on is the scope and shoes. She's not a nurse or even in healthcare. Is she right? I couldn't return it because my wife gave it to me. But shouldn't I get a $50 one for school?

The better the stethoscope, the more you'll here. You will thank her, believe me. You don't skimp on the scope, and you don't skimp on the shoes, either.

Nice scopes grow legs, though, so make sure your name is engraved on the bell or stamped into the tubing or something. That may not stop the scope from walking, but when you see the cardiology resident with it around his neck later, you'll be able to prove that it's yours.

Don't ever lend your scope to anyone. Physicians especially. One physician's office manager told me that they had a laundry basket full of stethoscopes he had walked off with -- most of them belonging to nurses in the ICUs of the two hospitals where he had privileges. Don't even lend your stethoscope to your wife. My husband lost both of mine in one 12-hour shift -- although I was able to reclaim one of them when I spotted it around the neck of the cardiology resident.

Don't wear your scope around your neck -- it's too easy for a physician to just pluck it off your neck, use it and walk away with it. It's also a strangling risk, but I've never had that happen. I have, however, have physicians take them without asking, usually when I have my hands full of something gross and cannot just grab it back. It should be in your ears or in your bag, although some guys have cargo scrubs and keep it in a leg pocket.

Congratulations on having such a wonderful wife. Tell her I said she was absolutely right!

Kallie3006, ADN · Apr 19, 2019

I agree with not skimping on the scope and the shoes, your wife sounds very wise! Just a heads up on wearing your scope around your neck- the bell hurts like a son of a... when it hits you in the bridge of the nose running for a code or such. Only had to happen once and I haven't put mine around my neck for 5 years.

Knight2Nurse, BSN · Dec 11, 2019

The pricier the stethoscope, the faster and easier it grows legs and walks off.

I have a Littmann Master Cardiology and a cheap no name one. There's probably a $200+ price difference between them!

The cheap one is always with me.

When I hear something and my cheap one doesn't quite do the job, my good one comes out of it's locked cabinet, out of the box it came in, and then gets put right back and locked up as soon as I cleaned it and I'm done using it.

Doing it this way I have never lost it and I don't think I ever will.

I've lost too many good ones over the years and found this to be the only way that works.

HandsOffMySteth · Dec 22, 2019

It seems to me that residents taking your scope without asking and walking off with it is disrespectful. It says "I don't think you deserve that, I do." It should be policy that everyone who's supposed to have one, has one. It's just like having your badge or wearing your scrubs. Doctors of all people should have one. Perhaps the nurses can bring it up at a meeting for remediation.