How to say no when someone asks for your stethoscope?

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Hi everyone,I'm a nursing student, and I've been asked a By a couple of people to borrow my stethoscope. I REALLY don't like loaning it out for a couple of reasons. I kind of thinks it's gross, I mean they go in your ears lol. And I'm also afraid it will grow legs and walk away... But as a lowly nursing student i feel awkward refusing these requests. Any suggestions as a good way to say no? Thanks,

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Specializes in ICU and EMS.

I have the same fears, and have known people who have gotten ear infections from what can only be attributed to sharing stethoscopes (we keep a stethoscope in each room due to isolation).

If for some reason I'm using my own and someone asks to barrow it, I simply say "I'm a germ-o-phobe and I don't loan mine out, sorry."

Or you could always tell them you've been draining green pus from your ear canal!

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Specializes in Hem/Onc/BMT.

Use the wipes! At least everyone so far in my experience had the courtesy to wipe the ear pieces before loaning or returning.

As for the steth growing legs, I just watch the person like a hawk until my property is returned. Doesn't matter whether I'm a lowly student and the other person is the chief of neurosurgery. What is mine is mine. I do the same for pens, because I got sick of losing so many pens over the years in healthcare. I am very possessive of my pens!

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Specializes in CICU.

It is OK to say no. You don't owe anyone an explanation.

Aside from that, clean the earpieces. I hand mine over when someone asks, and have never had an issue.

As far as scopes disappearing, I guess that must depend on where you work. I've left mine laying around and it always turns back up. As a matter of fact, I often leave it hanging on a hook outside an isolation room (to dry after I've wiped it down) and a few months ago I forget it there and then was off work for almost a week. When I came back it was hanging on the sharps box in the med room. It isn't the fanciest, but its a nice littman.

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Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

Make sure it's engraved if it's something that would be hard to replace. You don't have to let someone borrow it. If you choose to, clean the ear pieces and know who you are lending it to. I've loaned mine to a doctor and he went back to his office with my steth in his pocket accidentally. About an hour later he ran back in and said "my nurse pointed out plum isn't my color. Hope you didn't miss it too much."

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Specializes in retired LTC.
Make sure it's engraved if it's something that would be hard to replace. You don't have to let someone borrow it. If you choose to, clean the ear pieces and know who you are lending it to. I've loaned mine to a doctor and he went back to his office with my steth in his pocket accidentally. About an hour later he ran back in and said "my nurse pointed out plum isn't my color. Hope you didn't miss it too much."
Hurray for the doctor!

As for borrowing, just say NO! You don't owe an explanation but I like the germ-o-phobe response if you feel you need.

Also even engraving won't stop someone really bent on taking equip. It can just be filed over or re-engraved. I've had the bad luck ...

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Hi everyone,I'm a nursing student, and I've been asked a By a couple of people to borrow my stethoscope. I REALLY don't like loaning it out for a couple of reasons. I kind of thinks it's gross, I mean they go in your ears lol. And I'm also afraid it will grow legs and walk away... But as a lowly nursing student i feel awkward refusing these requests. Any suggestions as a good way to say no? Thanks,

If they are in the same room, I let them use it and keep alcohol wipes in my pocket.

However, if a student wants to take it in another room, I would say, "I really cannot afford to replace it, aren't we all supposed to bring our own?"

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I think sharing is caring. Ear canal is just a skin and as long as you wipe it, there is no problem. Just let them know that you want it back asap and he/she owes you one. Good way to build a team work, but if it is a same person asking for it again and again, you need to say enough is enough and get their own.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.
Hi everyone,I'm a nursing student, and I've been asked a By a couple of people to borrow my stethoscope. I REALLY don't like loaning it out for a couple of reasons. I kind of thinks it's gross, I mean they go in your ears lol. And I'm also afraid it will grow legs and walk away... But as a lowly nursing student i feel awkward refusing these requests. Any suggestions as a good way to say no? Thanks,

EEEEEEEEwwwwww just say HELL NO! that is just disgusting! why would you even consider it? eeeeeeeeeeeeeeewww! I don't care about wipes, that's like sharing your underwear...eeeeeeeeeeeeewww:barf02:

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Specializes in ICU.

Sorry I need it myself right now.

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Tell them sure, but you have ear herpes. :) I find that buying a bright girly colored one keeps most of the docs from stealing it, they tend to steal navy and black ones.

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Funny you should say that, mine is very pink :)

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