How to say no when someone asks for your stethoscope?

Dezy · Sep 3, 2012

You could always say " Sure! lend me something of yours so we dont forget, and if you could wipe it down when your done that would be great!"

They will either not want to bother (my own experience) or go to such hassle. Or they will actually return it! :)

JB2007, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2012

I am sorry but I was getting ready to go in and assess my patient in another room. I am sure there is one at the nurses station that you can borrow.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2012

I never really understood 'ear germs' as a reason not to borrow/lend a stethoscope. As someone else mentioned, there is a 'communal' stethoscope for isolation rooms. Wipe it off and you will be fine (cleaning the ear pieces should be a normal part of stethoscope maintenance anyway).

"Growing legs" is another concern. I like the suggestions mentioned above--either watch them like a hawk or borrow something of theirs as "collateral"--or just say something to the effect of "sorry, I was just about to use it to check placement on this PEG tube" (and then walk right into that room in question).

Mandychelle79, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2012

I dont mind when people borrow mine, I actually leave it in our nurses station ( locked unit) for people to use, as the supplied ones, cant hear crap out of. But mine has Betty Boop on it so its pretty obvious it is mine. I had a bright orange one, but the ear tips ripped through and just need new one.

LynnLRN · Sep 3, 2012

Keep it in your pocket so people can't see it? Only carry it when you are actually doing assessments. If you are uncomfortable saying NO then the best thing for you would just to be not having it on you.

timmedico · Sep 3, 2012

By the looks of it, it seems that you've already made the decision. :) It is your stethoscope...kinda like your toothbrush. I'm in nursing school as well, and I can tell you I'd not let anybody use it. As a nursing student, that stethoscope is your baby! Now if you are comfortable giving your "baby" to certain close friends, that's wonderful; but if a person just keeps asking over and over again, that's no good (can't let them steal your baby). I've heard many times of good stethoscopes growing legs...so I watch mine like hawk.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2012

The answer is... "sorry.. no can do.. I have lost too many this way".

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 3, 2012

Just say no. It's OK. I find that not many people DO say no, but after I saw a colleague lose three Littmans in three weeks, I stopped letting anyone borrow mine. The one exception was, I let my husband use it for one shift after he PROMISED me he wouldn't loan it out, leave it laying anywhere or lose it. You guessed it -- he lost it. Six months later, I saw it around the neck of a cardiology resident, but I had already replaced it. Now even DH doesn't get to borrow it. The last time he asked, I went and got him one of those isolation scopes out of the Pyxis. He doesn't even ask anymore. I'll have to ask him where he got the bright pink one I saw him with the other day.

loriangel14, RN · Sep 3, 2012

Where I work we actually have stethoscopes so we don't need to purchase our own.Do most places not have stethoscopes for staff to use?

MusicEMT · Sep 3, 2012

Tell them "give me your drivers licence or equipment as collateral"

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Sep 3, 2012

I loan everything. Shears, hemostats, stetho, whatever. It is usually only during traumas so its kind of important.

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2012

I don't have a problem with stethoscopes. I really don't have alot anybody wants to borrow:) .

My husband has expensive construction tools. He frequently has friends ask to borrow them. "I don't lend them out" works real well. Friends are mad at first, then get over it. My rule of thumb is 1) If I can't afford to replace it, I don't borrow it, OR lend it.