Reduced sound from learning stethoscopes?

[rnstudentinmn]

I am HOH and I am having problems with my college. They are insistent that there is no sound loss when using the 'learning'(double)stethoscopes as opposed to a regular stethoscope. I bought myself a cardiology model and I can hear not great but good enough with it. For testing situations my college insists that I have to use a cheap model teaching stethoscope. I can not hear at all from it, other than if I tap my finger on it really hard. They are trying to say that accommodations can't be made because they can't verify if I am getting my vitals correct. My two questions are first-does anyone know of any articles or research on the sound loss with a learning vs. regular stethoscope. Second-what are accommodations that I can suggest so that they can verify I can take blood pressures and apical pulses.

[calte]

I suggest you try Cardiocare brand learning stethoscope--amazing sound. http://www.cardiocarescopes.com

I am HOH and I am having problems with my college. They are insistent that there is no sound loss when using the 'learning'(double)stethoscopes as opposed to a regular stethoscope. I bought myself a cardiology model and I can hear not great but good enough with it. For testing situations my college insists that I have to use a cheap model teaching stethoscope. I can not hear at all from it, other than if I tap my finger on it really hard. They are trying to say that accommodations can't be made because they can't verify if I am getting my vitals correct. My two questions are first-does anyone know of any articles or research on the sound loss with a learning vs. regular stethoscope. Second-what are accommodations that I can suggest so that they can verify I can take blood pressures and apical pulses.

[athena55, BSN, RN]

My suggestion is go see your college's 504 Director.

IF she/he can't help you, then contact the Department of Justice regarding the ADA.

How about you suggest the instructor takes a BP and then you take the BP. Of course, it may be different, especially if you both take it on different arms.

Accommodations can always be suggested and acted upon.

If you were on the floor and had a question about, say breath sounds, you would go to someone else and ask them, hey what do YOU hear, right?

GO to your 504 officer STAT.

Good luck and please let us know how things turn out for you.

athena

[RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

i agree with the other post above. They should be able to do it right after you and get a correct and close enough number to be able to access you properly. if they disagree, then i would go to the dean of nursing stat and get this figured out. if would tell them your case and well as ways to remedy the situation, that will also show nursing thinking. not just that you have a problem and fix it.

in the long run, you are going to be helping another person b/c if there is not a policy in place now, then there ought to be, and maybe you can be the one to write it with the school!

GL!

-H-