Published
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.
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.
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!
notjustanurse
86 Posts
can never bring their own *%$# stethoscope when they round on their patients?