Lost stethoscopes

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 2, 2017

Seriousy, if you know where to buy just such thing for Littmann (not Etsy Prestige Medical), kindly let me know. It would be useful for keeping my old favorite stetoscope safe, and more.

Ben_Dover · Mar 2, 2017

Light Bulb on... this will make me a bazillionare. I will develop an App to locate, via GPS, your missing Stets. :wacky:

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2017

Trust me I have. If you see mine around the neck of someone wherever you are, it'll speak volumes about his/her character.

It would certainly suggest they're well travelled.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Mar 3, 2017

Those are easily removed...engraved letters on the other hand, not so much. You'll be surprised how far things travel!

Engraving can be covered up or scratched out. But I will look where I live..100s of miles from D/FW.

Workitinurfava, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2017

I wear mine around my neck.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 3, 2017

Tubing of flashy neon color, a engraved yoke plate (as big as possible and saying "RN") and decorations of tubing, yoke and head, if it is full metal, with some glued Swarowski cabs greatly reduce the chances of the stetoscope to walk away. Providers (doctors and midlevels alike) despise such decorations as "unprofessional" and everyone else will hopefully think one more time before walking away with something so easy to note.

Of course, if you're a guy, the full-on bling may not be your style.

Keep your stethoscope out of sight if not actually using it and never lend it to anyone.

My husband has lost several stethoscopes. Even one of mine (sigh) that he borrowed "just for tonight" because he couldn't find his own. By the time I got back to work twelve hours later, he'd lost mine as well. I found it six months later, around the neck of a medical resident who insisted it was his own. (The name "Ruby Vee" engraved on the tubing said otherwise. In the meantime, I had ordered another Littman at my husband's expense.

I gave my husband a bright pink Littman for Christmas one year. He was too embarrassed to wear that thing around his neck, so no one asks to borrow it. He hasn't lost that one (yet).

guest114 · Mar 3, 2017

I have learned not to invest too much in supplies because I float around a lot and may never be in the same place twice. I am also careful not to forget things but if I do I consider it good as gone. People steal, I have learned to accept that, especially if they know you may not be coming back ,or they could be a float, there's a million reasons, they could have no reason at all. I am careful do a check at beginning and end to make sure I have what I brought. I keep everything in one place for the most part and bring only what I know I need to use. I always keep my stethoscope near by and am usually using it so it's never really in a place I would leave it behind, I saw they make clips you can get too but that seems uncomfortable. If I am working on a unit where I may just be an extra passing meds I'll leave it in my bag, those reuseable ones in the bottom drawer can do the job if need be. Of course saying all this I have had the stethoscope I got as a graduation gift 6 years ago until this day, I just have become so attached to it depite buying others, but I am still always afraid of leaving it behind so I guess that's why I never have. I would turn around before I left the building if I left it....I have bought others but always stuck with the one (Littmann Cardio III Raspberry*) and haven't found the need to invest in anything fancy just in case I did lose it, I would be upset about it. One other thing, if it's super SUPER nice, it's way more likely some one would snatch it (kinda weird with your name in it though...), mine is old, broken in just right, and even has some sentimental value. It's nothing less than top of the line too and not heavy or excessive like some stethoscopes. Nurses leave their stuff being all the time, it depends on a lot of things. I would always report it, make the staff aware to look out, and still label everything. I hope you get your stuff back. Maybe in a some alternative world, someone turned it in or put it in a weird place to keep it safe. But most likely not. I really hope people stop stealing, even had a patient steal $400 cash right from a nurses bag, on camera...no charges filed, nothing .

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 3, 2017

I really hope people stop stealing, even had a patient steal $400 cash right from a nurses bag, on camera...no charges filed, nothing .

What in the world was someone doing with $400 in cash in their bag while they were at work, with the bag presumably unattended at times? Never bring more cash to work than you're willing to lose.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 3, 2017

My husband has lost several stethoscopes. Even one of mine (sigh) that he borrowed "just for tonight" because he couldn't find his own. By the time I got back to work twelve hours later, he'd lost mine as well. I found it six months later, around the neck of a medical resident who insisted it was his own. (The name "Ruby Vee" engraved on the tubing said otherwise. In the meantime, I had ordered another Littman at my husband's expense.

I remember that story! I told my husband (med student) about it when I gave him an engraved Littmann as a gift as a cautionary tale. I never trust anyone with my stethoscope!

fj13 · Mar 4, 2017

I am a frustrated RN. I work in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I have lost 2(two) expensive stethoscopes within a year. My first was a Littmann Master Cardiology stethoscope. This stethoscope was a birthday present from my wife. It was lost about 1 year ago. The second, a Littmann Cardiology IV, was brand new. I had only used it on 2 patients. Both were engraved Moses K Thiga & Moses Kuria Thiga respectively on the tube and head. Please be on the look out. Thank you.

Is this meant to be a parody? or you are for real? Never had this issue in the military with my rifle or any other equipment...maybe put a "dummy cord" on your next one. Worked for me in the service Also, maybe you shouldn't buy an expensive stethoscope in the future, just use the disposable ones in the unit or the community ones in the unit.

manager123 · Mar 4, 2017

I agree with the neon colored tubing. Once I bought a bright neon pink stethoscope, I never had an issue. Even the doctors wouldn't borrow it! Bright yellow, green or whatever really did the trick. Engraving is impossible to see from far away and when everyone uses a black stethoscope it is tough to demand to see them to check engraving.

I have also discovered that there are hidden places for lost supplies on every unit. I can't tell you the number of places people put 'found' items but never bother to post in the lounge or whatever that xyz was found.

You could try guilting your co-workers by putting a note up in the lounge describing the birthday gift that walked away. Ditto for placement in a physician view area. One never knows.

guest112 · Mar 4, 2017

Those fancy looking tubing covers that cover a steth. scope are a major fomite and infection risk. They make it impossible to wipe down your scope when needed. Better to go with an allergy band with your name or something like that like others mentioned. I have my name typed on a small piece of paper taped on one of the ear tubes. Very simple and I have never lost a steth. scope. Been a hospital RN for 5 years. The other key already mentioned, is keep your scope with you; in a pocket or around your neck. Don't lay it down.