How to say no when someone asks for your stethoscope?

Nurses Relations

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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,

Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.
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:

man-nurse2b:

what she may mean is the tiny alcohol wipe.

In my years of nursing, I have never lost a stethoscope. Besides, who knows if I let someone else borrow mine, I might need to borrow one in the future!

yeah i know she means alcohol wipes. In my 4 years when I was an EMT I never borrowed a stethosope, never lent it out either.

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Specializes in Hem/Onc/BMT.

I make sure I wipe the earpieces whenever I hand over a steth because I know some people are very grossed out by the idea. But I personally find it strange. Touching someone's inside of the ear is probably cleaner than touching money. Heck, it's probably cleaner than your own hands.

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Specializes in ICU.

I had a preceptor who had a stethescope with earpieces so worn down and uncomfortable I could barely stand using it the one time she loaned it to me. I told her they sell replacements and she said, "I know. I leave them like that so no one will borrow it." LoL

I am very picky about who I loan mine to and how far it goes. I am also very careful to always wipe it down. Basically, like everybody else said, if you don't want to loan it out, don't.

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As a student, nobody is touching my Littmann: period. It holds a lot of personal significance for me... I have kept it safely tucked away for nearly two years as a tangible reminder of my ultimate goal and biggest dream. And now that I'm finally bringing the dream to life I'll be damned if somebody steals that from me, it's more than just a 90 dollar steth to me, it represents something.

As an RN, I want to work Trauma in the end, so if it's an emergency all bets are off, we can hot potato it around the room if we need to. But I WILL come find you if I don't get it back, and you won't be happy when I do ;)

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

I have a fungal infection that hasn't been identified yet. That should do it lol (from Christmas Vacation, best movie ever made).

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.
I have a fungal infection that hasn't been identified yet. That should do it lol (from Christmas Vacation, best movie ever made).

nice one :roflmao:

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

I have lost 2 stethoscoped lending them out, so I've stopped. I simply say no and direct them to the disposables. Bringing your own stethoscope is part of being prepared to do your job, and if they have to use the crappy disposables a few times, maybe they'll come to work prepared to do their job.

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

*stethoscopes

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Specializes in ER.

Simply tell the person that where they can find a disposable or if they can't obtain one from the Pyxis themselves, offer to get it for them. If they press further, say "sorry, I have seen a stethoscope grow legs and just walk off!!"

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Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.
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?

Yeah but they're cheap and you can't hear a thing. We have them in our stock room so after I lost mine (bright color, name tag and everything!) I used them for a while. Terrible.

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My thoughts are ... watch on eBay for super cheap, low quality stethoscopes to come on sale for $2-$3, purchase 4 or 5 - keep one in your lab coat pocket - when someone asks to borrow your nice one, hand them one of those ... they'll get the message.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
My thoughts are ... watch on eBay for super cheap, low quality stethoscopes to come on sale for $2-$3, purchase 4 or 5 - keep one in your lab coat pocket - when someone asks to borrow your nice one, hand them one of those ... they'll get the message.

Why should you have to put out money to discourage someone from using your stethoscope? Most places have "isolation scopes" that are very cheap and low quality but the hospital pays for it. If someone doesn't have their own scope and wants to use mine, I point them in the direction of the supply room for an isolation scope.

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