Do LPNs use stethoscopes?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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It might sound like a stupid question, but whenever I see a video on youtube about an LPN they aren't wearing one; at least, not like RNs. Just wondering thats all...

I'm encouraged to show up clean and on time. Sometimes I even bring my stethoscope with me for the outing.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
We wear assigned colors. We have a dress code. Make-up is encouraged:alien:

as it makes nurses appear more professional. No lie.

I think there's something sexist in there somewhere, but I'm not sure.

I don't even know how to apply make up, it just isn't me

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Specializes in Medical-Surgial, Cardiac, Pediatrics.

As an LPN, I used a stethoscope. I worked in peds home health, and needed to do daily assessments which included lung and heart sounds. I don't see how I could have done that WITHOUT one. As for scrubs, I wore whatever I wanted because I worked home health, but some facilities have requirements for their nurses to wear assigned colors. The hospital I now work at requires it for the nursing staff, LPNs and RNs both.

That being said, the whole wearing it around the neck thing was and is still something I don't do, even now that I'm working the floor as an RN in the hospital. It gets disgusting hanging around my neck, swings into things like beds or patients' faces, and is just a nuisance hanging there. I have a holder that I attach to a pack on my hips so it's out of my way but still handy.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

Weird question.

You're not just pouring formula & meds down the g-tube. You have to 'check placement' and pull residuals.

You can't assess a vomiting pt without checking bowel sounds. You can't treat for constipation/diarrhea with PRNs without hearing bowel sounds, either.

You can't assess a productive cough c high temp without auscultating lung sounds, though, sometimes you can hear 'wet' lung sounds without a steth. Point is, if you don't listen to their lungs - how will you know whether they need to be sent out?

You can't get through a re/admit assessment without a steth...cuff, pulse oximeter and thermometer. How else will you assess heart, lungs and bowel?

For instance.

I have two steths. A cardiology iii littman and an electronic littman. Both good for different reasons. I enjoy the cardiology because it's lighter but I sometimes need the electronic because it allows me to pick up EVERYTHING. The electronic steth has volume control. Great for noisy environments, like mine.

I also have an automatic cuff & manual cuffs in 3 sizes as well because I cannot obtain proper BPs on my smaller, more frail people with a regular cuff.

I don't hang my steth around my neck. They're in the nurse cart. I tried to put them in my pants but they drag them down.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

The very first thing they did in my LVN program was give everyone a godawful stethoscope, some crappy bandage scissors and a pocket protector! You see, there was this thing called a "manual blood pressure" . . .:-D

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The very first thing they did in my LVN program was give everyone a godawful stethoscope, some crappy bandage scissors and a pocket protector! You see, there was this thing called a "manual blood pressure" . . .:-D

And there still is...give me the choice of an automatic vs manual and I'll go for the manual all day every day.

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Yes, they do use stethoscopes. Example to take a manual blood pressure.

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Manual blood pressure, wow that is something you don't see very often nowadays. Had a heck of a time finding one at my old job, had to just buy one myself. Sorry off topic, yes I use a stethascope a lot as a LPN.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I've used my stethoscope this week to:

1) auscultate bowel sounds on 2 Pts c/o constipation. My assessment showed hypo active (duh!). I reported to the MD and administered laxatives.

2) to auscultate lungs and bowels on a pt with extrapyrimidal symptoms so I could give a good assessment to chart and provide to the MD.

3) to take a repeat BP on a pt whose chart reflected increasing BP. My steth showed a lower reading than the electronic machine recorded.

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Are you more concerned how you will appear to others as a nurse? Or are you more concerned about becoming a nurse? Your post seems to appear like you are going for a look rather than for the job/title. Jmho.

I'm just trying to where lpns fit into the healthcare system. I respect all of the positions in Heathcare but I feel like I am getting conflicting views of what an Lpn does and can do vs an rn. I want to go back to school and take nursing but I font want to feel limited in any way. I want to help ppl provide for my family, and feel confident in my choice to be an lpn or rn. I am in my early thirties, and will be paying for school out of my own pocket. I want to feel like I am making the right choice instead of a costly mistake.

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LPN utilization can vary greatly depending on where you are geographically and what specialty you are interested in. Your best bet is to look around locally to see what types of jobs LPNs are being hired into and ask to shadow one to see what the job is like. You could also talk to any LPN schools to get an idea of what sort of a career path is available for an LPN in your area.

As far as being limited, an LPN's scope of practice is more narrow than an RN's. How much will depend on your state's BON and facility policy. Generally speaking, the longer the education, the broader the scope of practice/opportunity for career advancement.

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Are you more concerned how you will appear to others as a nurse? Or are you more concerned about becoming a nurse? Your post seems to appear like you are going for a look rather than for the job/title. Jmho.

Also is it wrong for asking about the scrubs? I love cute things and I have seen nurses who wear patterned scrubs and some who wear uniformed ones. If I had to wear a potato sack to work every day I still would be a nurse. Please don't judge my question as an indicator as to if I am serious about becoming a nurse. After giving birth to three kids I came in contact with great nurses and horrible ones. I respect everything you nurses, CNAs, psws, and doctors do every day. But I do feel that some, not all nurses are unnecessarily hostile or judgemental to new nurses and soon to be nurses jmho.

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