Stethoscope for a PCT?

happy2bnurse · Jul 23, 2014

I did when I worked in the hospital as a PCT.

k-flo · Jul 23, 2014

When I worked as a PCT on the floor I didn't need one at all but the techs at the ER I work at have one because they have to do a lot of manual BPs on trauma pts, but some get away without having one.

funtimes · Jul 23, 2014

Yes you probably need one as a tech, if only to check manual blood pressure from time to time. Usually if a blood pressure is unusually high on a patient the Nurse will expect you to check it manually as the robocuffs can sometimes give a higher reading than what it actually is. Sometimes the automatic wont get a reading at all on some patients so you have to check it manually. Then you run into patients who freak out if the cuff tightens too much(to be fair it can hurt), or tightens repeatedly, so they demand you do it manually.

The hospital will probably have the disposable "fisher price" stethoscopes used for isolation rooms, you could just use one of those... if you have really good hearing.

runsalot · Jul 23, 2014

I usually do not bring mine to work as I would use it so infrequently I would not want to lose it. The 1 time I needed one to take a manual pressure a nurse let me borrow hers.

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2014

i don't need it or use it on my job. I seen PCTs at other hospitals get one, its mainly to do manual blood pressures, otherwise its of no use, the nurse could just use a doppler if they having trouble finding a blood pressure or you could always grab a cheap disposible steth from the supply room if you absolutely need to

funtimes · Jul 23, 2014

I'm surprised some techs never use a steth. Where I've worked its basically expected of us to take a manual BP if its outside of normal limits and significantly different from the last reading. When I report the BP the first thing out of the RNs mouth is usually did you get a manual? Not to mention the situations I mentioned where a manual is all you can get.

Im not saying I always carry my steth around with me, but usually the times I don't are the times when I end up having to do 3 or 4 manual BPs. Just about the only time I ever take a Doppler BP is if the patient has an LVAD.

Ele123 · Jul 23, 2014

I've only worked for two months, but haven't had to take a manual bp yet. I always bring my stethoscope, but it stays in my bag/locker. Sometimes if it is high and the pt. has a history/ the last few readings have been high the nurse will accept an automatic high bp reading. Once a patient was in desperate need of a manual bp and the nurse just handed me her stethoscope.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Jul 23, 2014

On the very rare occasion that I need a stethoscope as an ER Tech, I've borrowed one from a nurse.

sarrra23 · Jul 24, 2014

This helps a lot thank you everyone for the replies!

Sincerely,

Sara :)

RedInScrubs, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2014

I worked in a nursing home as a CNA for a year or so, and had my own, because I had to do manual BPs on practically everyone, since the machines never worked. Though it managed to walk away and then return itself with a missing earpiece about six months into my job..