Found out about CNA's and stethoscopes

[TazziRN, RN]

I had my daughter ask her teacher. The students were told not to get stethoscopes because she doesn't want them to get in the habit of wearing one around her neck....danger of being strangled. When she said that I had a vague recollection of being told the same thing. She said she knows that no one in nursing follows that once they're actually working, but for school purposes she's going to follow instructions. Hubby and I decided to wait until she gets into nursing school to get her one.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I actually got pulled down into the bed of a very confused and restless pt one night by my stethoscope. I called out for help but no one could hear me. I had to kick the bedside table (and all its contents) to get help!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

They make "hip clips" for steths to be put on a clip that hangs on a pant's waistband.

[TazziRN, RN]

Oh, I know it happens sometimes, sorry if I gave the opposite impression. I'm glad you're okay.

[TazziRN, RN]

Marie, I was thinking about getting her one of those with the scope. I thought more about it, and as a CNA she won't have many occasions to use a scope; when she needs one she can use the facility's scope. She'll have more use for one as a nursing student.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

If she has a decent work locker, she could just keep it in there until vitals were to be done.

[PeachPie]

We were taught never to hang our stethoscopes or pen necklaces around our necks lest some opportunistic crazy person sees it as a handy-dandy noose for the mean nurse who's obviously trying to kill her.

[Larry77, RN]

I keep mine in my cargo pocket--love my cargo pockets!

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I've always kept mine around my neck, perhaps I need to rethink that

[patsyNJ2006]

My very first day of clinical at a hospital, our professor had someone from infectious disease nurse speak to us. She pointed out that we use our scopes on pts who have a variety of illnesses, and to never put the scope around our necks. The tubing touches the sheets, gowns, gets coughed on.......even though the diaphragm gets alcoholed, I can't swear that I wipe the entire scope completely every time its used. Her point was why risk putting the tubing so close to our faces and hair.

[flowerchick]

Good points on safety and infection!

In the past, I've carried it or left it at the nurses station for patients that are known to me to be a potential for confusion and/or violence. However, in really examining that, it seems a bit of a crap shoot.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

That was rule #1 in EMT training (that and "is the scene safe"). As a nurse working with demeted elderly..that is the first thing I do when I enter the room or approach...take off the scope.

Really, CNAs in LTC only use stethoscopes once or maybe twice a shift for vital signs.