Question about writing on stethoscope tubes

[nursingblahblah]

With all the talk about stethoscopes walking off i had bought three tags that are like the ones like this http://www.nurseweekstore.com/idtags.html (bottom of the page) for my sprague the first one broke and the 2nd and 3rd would not stay stuck together so i was wanting to know if anyone has taken a sharpie or permanate (bad spelling) pen and wrote on the tubes of their steth to keep it from walking...... or would that mess up the steth?

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

I did when I owned a sprague. However, now that I have a Littmann I bought a littmann name tag with gives you the option of having the name tag professionaly engraved. I just got my engraved name tag yesterday... very cool..

[abundantjoy07, RN]

Our instructors advised us to write on the tube with a sharpie...if we didn't want to buy a name tag.

[nursingblahblah]

good thing i am sick of spending cash on tags when they break or don't stay stickied together heck i even tried super glue and they didn't stick well i think the glue just didnt have anything to Hold onto b/c the plactic is smooth

[fergus51]

We're lucky our hospital has bought enough stethoscopes so that each baby has his or her own and nurses aren't allowed to use their own anymore.

[elkpark]

I have often seen patient arm bands used as tags on S-R stethoscopes -- you just loop it around the metal part of the stethoscope where it can't slide off (after you've written on it!) and secure it the same as you would on a patient's wrist. The bands are v. sturdy and last a long time (unlike the flimsy little things that are made to be stethoscope ID tags, as you've noticed).

If you want permanent, most jewelry stores or the "Things Remembered" stores that are in a lot of malls can engrave the metal part of the stethoscope with your name and whatever other info you want. Shouldn't cost much.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

i agree elkpark,, thats what we do. Actually, stethescopes that grow legs and walk off actually do. They are carried to the doctors lounge usually and get dropped there or taken back to an office and are never heard out of again. I humbly suggest you never lay it down unless it is in a drawer or locker that only you or a very few people will be getting into. If you happen to let a doctor "borrow" yours,, follow him around like a puppie until you get it back.

[NurseFirst]

i agree elkpark,, thats what we do. Actually, stethescopes that grow legs and walk off actually do. They are carried to the doctors lounge usually and get dropped there or taken back to an office and are never heard out of again. I humbly suggest you never lay it down unless it is in a drawer or locker that only you or a very few people will be getting into. If you happen to let a doctor "borrow" yours,, follow him around like a puppie until you get it back.

If you can. Our student uniforms have a vest with a polo shirt under it. I try to hide my stethoscope under the collar and then under the vest (keeps docs and others from asking to borrow yours)...When I went to surgery the other day the nurse told me to keep my stethoscope with me (I was very grateful!!! I didn't want it left in the unlocked locker I was using in the women's locker room!!!!).

NurseFirst