tips for holding onto stethescopes at work?

Fgr8Out · May 12, 2002

Get the UGLIEST colored stethescope you can find... Makes identification MUCH easier....

Jenny P · May 12, 2002

I've engraved my stethescope with "STOLEN FROM JENNY P"..., then rubbed ink into the engraving. It shows, and no one has walked off with this one.

MPHkatie · May 12, 2002

I have a problem of taking mine off my neck when starting IV's and the like. I have lost several Littman's one burgundy, one green and one blue. Then i bought a pinkish one called Mulberry I think and it actually keeps being returned to me when I leave it in patients rooms. Some RN's in our dept have gotten these scopes called the Ultra scope with a huge happy face or tye dye pattern on the bell, they like the way they work, but I am sticking with my pink littman. if you are not scatter brained, you will probably hold on to it for many years.

DF-LPN · May 12, 2002

13 yrs and i still have my original one from nursing school....a purple littman:D

unfortunatly it has been retired for the past 4 yrs LOL, it sits on my shelf with my school books:o

my new one is lime green and I rarely loan it out, if I do I have no problem hunting them down to retrieve it!!!!!

NOW for my good pens......I NEVER loan those out!!!!!

i buy a dozen from the dollar store and those i loan out knowing full well i'll never see them again!!!!

you must have missed the cousre in school about how nutorius nurses and doc are at stealing pens and scopes LOL

Dee

ERNurse752, RN · May 12, 2002

"how nutorius nurses and doc are at stealing pens and scopes LOL"

But especially those sneaky little med students!

kats · May 12, 2002

"you must have missed the cousre in school about how nutorius nurses and doc are at stealing pens and scopes LOL"

Actually that's why I started this thread. I didn't want to alienate everybody I will be working with, but like I said I didn't want to have to pay lots of money to replace my stethescope all the time. I will definately get it engraved, buy an obnoxious color, and never place it down. I also will not loan it out to anyone unless it is critical for the patient's well being, of course. Then I will just make sure I stalk the person I loaned it to around the hospital until I get it back. Thanks for all the great suggestions, Kimberly

CelticNurse · May 12, 2002

You don't have to be nasty to achieve these aims. Just turn to the individual, smile sweetly and state that they can have your stethoscope by all means.........when they prise it out of your cold, dead fingers!!

Harsh? Maybe, but it works for me. I also have been known to let people know the address of a reputable dealer where they can purchase their own set of ears. It is a small service that they get for free.......I don't even get commission for that one!

Seriously, though, I would not worry about 'offending' your workmates. They are also aware of how much these things cost and just how mobile these little devils get in the wrong hands, so they should also be aware why you are not prepared to lend them out. Besides that, it is just plain not nice using somebody else's scopes. Let's face it, you wouldn't borrow their toothbrush, would you........?

ktwlpn, LPN · May 12, 2002

I think that sharing a scope is comparable to sharing a toothbrush-yech!!!! I had a doc take mine from around my neck a few years ago (I had my hands full at the time) and the "forgot " and walked out of the hospital with it. He made rounds at a nearby hospital and passed it off to another doctor who was on his way to make rounds with us.It was a well traveled scope. And it is purple.I also have held on to my scissors for 12 years-they need to be sharpened desperately.

delirium · May 13, 2002

For Christmas this past year, I bought myself a master cardio scope... it is burgundy and I had my name engraved on the bell. It also has a littman tag on it, and its covered by a scopecoat (blue dolphins).

It is around my neck or in my pocket at all times. I have let one student borrow it but I was standing with her the entire time. I have been known to ask for someone's shoe as collateral if they ask to borrow my scope (and walk away with it).

The same as my PDA, that doesn't get lent out, either.

R.

Trauma Columnist · May 13, 2002

I too keep mine around my neck the entire shift. The tubing gets hard and stiff from body oil, so I always wear a sleeveless mock turtleneck underneath my scrubs. I do lend mine out too, but make it clear I want it back.

The remark about the med students made me laugh - ours are so well-equipped we could operate and do a CABG with the junk they carry around - lol!!!

Our docs (ER) are great about returning stuff. The attendings will even buy a new stethoscope for the nurse if they lose it!!!

RN4ustat, BSN, RN · May 13, 2002

Originally posted by ktwlpn
I also have held on to my scissors for 12 years-QUOTE]

I have a trick for hanging on to my scissors. I have several pairs of scissors and hemostats all hooked together on a key ring. If anyoen asks to borrow them, I make them take the whole thing. Its so obnoxious, the either politely decline or they don't forget they have it. Has worked for 6 yrs now. I lost my last littman when I took it off to place a foley on a very large woman in the ER one day. Got the pt cleaned up and the foley placed, but I never saw the littman again!! No idea where it went, but I think it must have gotten thrown in the dirty linen. I said if it was in there, I didn't want it back. Then I got a cheapodepo to replace it. It works well enough and I can't lost the darn thing!! I guess it really is time to but a new littman, but I'm getting ready to change jobs and don't think I'll need one that much.

zudy · May 13, 2002

the pink stethascope is the best, thats what i do. also, anyone who borrows it has to gve me their car keys. they won't get too far!