Stethoscope Bling?

Nursing Students General Students

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Hello there,

Quick question for anyone who has already had some clinical experience. I was just accepted to my ADN program for Fall 2015 (yay!) and as a congrats gift my family bought me a stethoscope along with a really cute charm chain that hangs from it. I'm just wondering, are these charms allowed in nursing school/clinicals/hospitals? Being where it is located on the scope, I don't see how it would ever really come in direct contact with a patient but I could see why maybe some facilities would be worried about it not being sterile? Anyone have one of these and does your school/facility allow it?

Thanks!!

I always thought that one of the stones could come loose and land in a Stage IV pressure ulcer and then I would have to dig it out and cause pain to my patient. Remember do no harm.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Agree, manual BP skills are crucial but other assessment skills such as skin color, capillary refill and level of consciousness would also be helpful in determining if a patient is crashing.

Never advocated for using it as a diagnostic skill in isolation. The numbers are one thing, however if its used on its own without paying any attention to all the other things you mentioned nurses run the risk of missing a much bigger picture

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Never advocated for using it as a diagnostic skill in isolation. The numbers are one thing, however if its used on its own without paying any attention to all the other things you mentioned nurses run the risk of missing a much bigger picture

Agree

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Never advocated for using it as a diagnostic skill in isolation. The numbers are one thing, however if its used on its own without paying any attention to all the other things you mentioned nurses run the risk of missing a much bigger picture

As a case in point, said patient may have had a new S3-S4 of impending failure, but you'll have a hard time hearing it.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I can appreciate the practicality of the charms making it harder to do an assessment. I do think they are cute though, is that really wrong? Would I want them so that others could think I'm cute? No! It would be because I like them, whether anyone else would think they are cute is irrelevant to me.

It's the same thing I tell my 6 year old. Don't worry what others will think about your if it's something you like, that's all that matters.

I think it's wrong of you to assume that the OP or others like her who find the charms cute only buy them for other people's sakes and not their own.

When I was working, I wanted to be taken seriously, not look "cute." The times they are a changin'.

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I'll admit I had no clue what a stethoscope "charm" was, so I followed the link someone put up to CharMED. Learn something new every day!

FWIW, I do think they are cute. I wouldn't think that the person who had one on his or her scope thought that they inferred some kind of superiority, just that they....had cute things on his/her scope. I wouldn't assume the person who had one wasn't serious about nursing, I think that's a pretty big jump to take. If that's the case, every NM I've ever had who has had a "World's Best Nurse" or some such logo on her coffee mug would be equally non-serious. So...don't see that as a major issue.

The real question is whether or not this would be a problem to use, and of course the only answer that matters is the one the nursing school gives! I would say, though, that I'd be pretty surprised if they allowed it: I can see it being impossible to keep those things clean, and I'm not talking wiped-down kinda clean, but germicide/fungicide/antibacterial kinda clean.

The charm itself might not come into contact with a patient, BUT I have oftentimes laid my scope down on a bedside table, or on a bed, because it was what worked at the moment and I needed my hands free, whatever. Even putting it on the surface of the nursing station's desk/counter would indicate a need to be properly cleaned and I don't see those charm things holding up to that. It'd have to survive a dunk in disinfecting solution (because a wipe can't get into the crevices) and I definitely don't see THAT happening. Those little blingy-things must be glued on, in which case they'd come UNglued....potentially onto/into the next patient.

Just say no :)

One more thought: these were given as gifts, and I think the gifters were VERY thoughtful in looking for something unique, something they believed spoke to 'you' and that it would make a nice gift. If everyone were so kind in their gift choices, wouldn't THAT be a wonderful thing?

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Wow, I'm definitely going to think twice before I post a question on AN ever again. Apparently all that happens is unwanted advice and demeaning comments. I simply asked if the charm would be allowed. Not once did I request fashion advice or ask if it would disrupt my care of a patient. I can figure those out quite well on my own. Thank you to the few who sincerely tried to help.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
When I was working, I wanted to be taken seriously, not look "cute." The times they are a changin'.

Maybe the times are changing. Don't they always?

Personally, I have no problem wanting to be put together (which is what I think of when I hear the word "cute" while referring to adults whereas it seems many posters here think of toddlers when they hear the word "cute") AND be taken seriously. I mean really, if we were to pretend for just a second that the charms didn't pose a sanitation threat or interfere with assessments then what exactly is the big issue if someone liked the way they looked and wore one or two of them?

I won't argue the practicality of not wearing them as some have pointed out those very real issues, but I don't understand nor can I appreciate the backhanded comments of "middle-school" and "times are a changin" . There are ways to speak your mind without trying to bring others down.

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Specializes in Emergency.
Wow, I'm definitely going to think twice before I post a question on AN ever again. Apparently all that happens is unwanted advice and demeaning comments. I simply asked if the charm would be allowed. Not once did I request fashion advice or ask if it would disrupt my care of a patient. I can figure those out quite well on my own. Thank you to the few who sincerely tried to help.

When you post a question to all onto the interwebs, you will get some responses which you may not like. To expect that you will simply hear from those who agree with you is not realistic.

And grntea is a very well known poster on AN. I would suggest taking her advice and comments seriously.

Good luck.

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Specializes in ICU.

Ok, so I had to look. I love bling in the right amount. OP those are super cute!! And for everyone worrying about infection control they are made with an antimicrobial metal and slip right off to be cleaned. I thought maybe they dangled and a patient could possibly get ahold of one and hurt someone but they can't. They are perfectly fine OP. I might get one myself.

That was a thoughtful gift someone got you. I would still ask my program but I would explain they are not an infection risk. Plus, they can very easily be cleaned. When someone has something like MRSA, you can't take your own stethoscope in anyway. By the way, I am 39 and I don't buy stuff for other people to think I'm cute. I have a purple with rainbow bell stethoscope, purple BP cuff, tons of cute penlights, purple scissors, and a cute name badge reel. I do it for me. But I also do it in moderation just like anyone else. You won't see me in full out sequins, but a little bling on my shirt or say jeans, I love. I think of myself as fun!!!

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
Ok, so I had to look. I love bling in the right amount. OP those are super cute!! And for everyone worrying about infection control they are made with an antimicrobial metal and slip right off to be cleaned. I thought maybe they dangled and a patient could possibly get ahold of one and hurt someone but they can't. They are perfectly fine OP. I might get one myself.

That was a thoughtful gift someone got you. I would still ask my program but I would explain they are not an infection risk. Plus, they can very easily be cleaned. When someone has something like MRSA, you can't take your own stethoscope in anyway. By the way, I am 39 and I don't buy stuff for other people to think I'm cute. I have a purple with rainbow bell stethoscope, purple BP cuff, tons of cute penlights, purple scissors, and a cute name badge reel. I do it for me. But I also do it in moderation just like anyone else. You won't see me in full out sequins, but a little bling on my shirt or say jeans, I love. I think of myself as fun!!!

Maybe that's a better way to say it, fun instead of "cute" :) I am the same as you though, I like those fun things!

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Wow, I'm definitely going to think twice before I post a question on AN ever again. Apparently all that happens is unwanted advice and demeaning comments. I simply asked if the charm would be allowed. Not once did I request fashion advice or ask if it would disrupt my care of a patient. I can figure those out quite well on my own. Thank you to the few who sincerely tried to help.

Its a public message board, and reality is you will get opinions of all kinds that may or may not be helpful to you.

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