No stethoscope required?!?!?!?!?!

[aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

I was just double checking everything I'm going to need for my clinicals so I can start buying it and to my demise, I found out that a stethoscope is not required! Is this typical? I'm thinking, if they are wanting me to take vitals, I'm sure as heck not going to put my ear to their chest! :smackingf

[daisygal]

I don't think I have ever heard that one before.when I started my CNA classes one of the things I had to buy was a stethoscope. Maybe were your going to do your clinicals they provide one for you?I go in 2 days to take my states test and they said you could be tested on it but they will provide a two way one for you(and the judge)to use.Did you use one at all for the class?Maybe you should call the place were your going to do the clinicals and ask if they will have one for you to use?

[AuntieRN]

As a CNA I have never used a stethoscope either. In the LTC we did not take vs but once a month and the nurses did the BPs and in the hospital we use the automatic machines with disposable cuffs. None of our CNAs or NTs use them. If a BP needs to be taken manually they come get the nurse to do it.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

When I was an aide, I never once used a stethoscope. At every single facility where I have ever worked, none of the CNAs are to use stethoscopes. It is typically not within the CNA's scope of practice to assess patients using a stethoscope. If a facility requires vital signs to be taken by the aide, they will usually have automatic equipment for use so that no assessment is needed. If the automatic equipment does not yield the needed vital signs, then an LPN or RN obtains them manually.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

By the way, I just wanted to wish you the best of luck during your clinical rotations!

[Mimi Wheeze]

Not true around here, Commuter.

I was required to take CNA classes before starting my RN program. One of our check-offs was manual blood pressures. I now work on a med-surg floor and alll of our CNA's take vital signs manually.

I think using the portable machines is common, but I feel it is necessary for CNA's to be proficient in manual BP's.

[CHATSDALE]

need to be capable to take manual to double check or if the battery is dead etc

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I guess it depends on the facility but where I work if the BP reading is either high or low we are to retake it manually.

[dukester]

I am also starting CNA school next week. What type of stuff do you need? Note books, uniforms, ect!!

[arpeggiated]

We weren't required to have them, as our skills lab had a bunch of littmans, and you could usually scrounge up one on the clinical floor. But since a ton of my CNA class wanted to go on to get their LVN/RN, most of us bought our own steths.

[sziq1]

It does seem odd to me that they would not want you to have your own steth. but where I took my CNA class they had a ton of stethescopes to use so I suppose it really was not nec. for everyone to buy one. I already had one from my EMT classes and I just have a thing about using someone elses steth anyway. Just me I am a bit weird that way:uhoh3:!! I do work in a hospital and we generally don't use a stethescope unless we get an abn reading from the bp machine and then the nurse may as the CNA to obtain a manual bp. It is a very good thing to learn how to do. If I were you and you plan to go into nursing then I would just go ahead and buy one, you will eventually need it anyway.

[midcom]

I'm not a CNA but as part of my LPN training, during our first quarter, everyone who wasn't a CNA had to have a clinical rotation working as a CNA. We definately had to have a stethoscope & a BP cuff on us at all times. The group of us usually had to take all vitals before going home and if we didn't, the regular CNA did them. I can't imagine not having to have one. Isn't taking vital signs a skill included in the CNA exam?

Dixie