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So, this week hasn't been fun. My lovely Litmann that I received as a Christmas gift has been stolen by a doctor. I've even gone so far as to post fliers around the unit. I know that many nurses have their stethoscope stolen. My thought is "If doctors are stealing our stethoscopes, why are the facilities not paying us for those EXPENSIVE things?" Take it out of their paychecks. Every stethoscope stolen results in money taken from their paychecks. Or make them pool money together to supply us stethoscopes.
Needless to say, I miss my stethoscope. Who else has these problems? How do you track your stethoscope down?
I am very protective of my stethoscope, for that reason and because i want to keep mine clean. If you know who it may have been I would ask. it is possible that someone accidently took it and you may recuperate it. It also is possible anyone, including a patient could have taken it.
I give mine a bath at least once a week. It sleeps in a crate at night and because I'm an excessively oily person never sling it around my neck. You MUST read the very informative and important nursing studies done on that very subject.
It degrades the material due to the oils from skin.
While that is true, it takes years to warp the tubing and the sound quality is intact. The best reason not to wear it around your neck is the easy access for docs bent on pinching your scope and the remote possibility that a patient or family member may try to strangle you with it.
I've had one stethoscope walk off around a doctor's neck but I chased him all the way to the elevator and got it back. He was also notorious for stealing pens so at Christmas we would buy him a 12-pack and have to replace it by Valentine's Day. Kept it in a drawer at the desk so he'd have to ask for a one. Also had a doc that would swipe reading glasses if the opportunity arose!
I have an ultrascope, most physicians aren't fond of the idea of taking home a glittery stethoscope with a moon on it. I enjoy the sound quality I have as well but it isn't for everyone and it was only 90.00 when I bought it. Have had it almost 10 years! Even when I leave it behind its there when I come back mines too obvious to keep and play off like your own.
I had a maxiscope in extremely bright colors with my name on it. Left it in the nurses' station to respond to a bed alarm. Got back and it was missing. Bright colors and engraving don't guarantee that it won't go missing.
Garden,RN, ASN, RN
144 Posts
Thanks.