Why is it the highest paid among us...

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, PACU, Med-Surg.

can never bring their own *%$# stethoscope when they round on their patients?

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

Perhaps they just left it somewhere. I put mine down all the time or leave it outside of an iso room. I know some docs leave it in their coat pocket and then go to do a procedure and leave their coat hanging there. Now if it is the same person and they keep asking for yours, next time just give them one of those fisher price iso stethoscopes and tell them to keep it.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

If someone is coming unprepared to do their job, what does pay scale have to do with it? Just say "no, I need it, you cannot borrow it."

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, PACU, Med-Surg.

Perhaps that they *might* be able to afford one of their very own? I don't know, just a little vent. Snark away.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.
Perhaps that they *might* be able to afford one of their very own? I don't know, just a little vent. Snark away.

No snark, just asking because I don't understand. Why get annoyed? Just say no. Let it be their problem, don't make it yours.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

When I worked on the floor or in PACU, I would NEVER let anyone borrow my steth. I am the worst kind of germ-o-phobe in the world, and the thought of someone's earwax on my steth made me cringe.

You can always say that you have an ear infection and don't want to loan out your steth, you could say that you don't loan it out because you searched for months for the perfect steth and it doesn't leave your pocket, or you could just refuse without any explanation at all. Like BlueDevil stated, it is THEIR problem.

What's the worst thing that could happen if you refuse to loan it to this ill-prepared person? Clearly you are resentful, as I would be. You came to work prepared, so they should as well. If you want to keep things light-hearted, tell them that Store XYZ has a sale going on right now and has great prices for steths, and (in a joking manner) say that you have reached this month's quota on lending yours out. Then walk away.

They'll get the message and stop asking.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, PACU, Med-Surg.

I love the ear infection comment! LOL. We are a tiny facility, so I try to foster a team approach. But I had to save for MONTHS to afford my Littmann Master Cardiology.

Every once in a while is certainly acceptable, and I can absolutely overlook (and clean the heck out of it when it's returned). But we have several physicians that seem to believe the nurses, and any equipment that we possess, are there simply to supply them. I can honestly say that I have never seen them bring their own stethoscope, scissors, pen light, whatever. So, recently I just stopped saying yes. When I was asked if he could use my steth, I provided him with one of the disposables from the isolation kit. He said, "no, I mean your stethoscope." So I told him no. And I was counseled about being "unnecessarily uncooperative". So, I am probably more ****** about it than I should be, and dwelling more than I should be, LOL. But its AGGRAVATING!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

:rotfl:.......those that make more never will......:smokin:. That used to grate my bum too.......I would remove one of the ear pieces and carry it separate and I would say....Oh I'm sorry I just lost my ear peices......:lol2:

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And I was counseled about being "unnecessarily uncooperative".

ohhhhh, that would grind my gears too....

You're getting counseled for being uncooperative, when it should be him being counseled for being unprepared.

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Stethescope? I see the cardiologists carring one of those around sometimes.

The surgeons in my department rely more on looking at x-rays and other scans rather than listening with a stethescope.

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Specializes in M/S, ICU, ICP.

How about say "you can borrow it this time but I really rather you didn't" and then ask the supervisor if she/he can stock some basic supply stock on the floor for the docs.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, PACU, Med-Surg.

That is a very diplomatic solution, CheyFire. Personally, I think they should buy their own dang equipment and not rely on anyone else's budget, mine or my department's.

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