Stethoscope and shadowing

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Hi,

just wondering if you think I should bring my stethoscope to a RN Shadow for a potential job?

The job is in a CICU, so I would imagine it would be a great opportunity to hear some abnormal heart sounds, but I don't want to over step!

Any suggestions?

Annie

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I would.

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Specializes in FNP.

Absolutely take it.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

ok thanks! :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Dialysis, Hospice.

I agree. Showing an interest and wanting to hear abnormal heart sounds would make the nurse that you are shadowing feel like you are actually serious about what you are doing and not just wasting his or her time because "I have to do this". I know I would appreciate it and respect you for it.

We had some student nurses come to the hospice office where I used to work to shadow one of our case manager RNs and a couple of them made sure that we knew that they had no intention of ever working hospice and were just doing it because they were required to do so. They appeared bored and it was a real turn off to our staff. You honestly never know where your nursing career will take you, and a learning opportunity is never a waste of time. I thought I wanted to work peds back when I started out and I ended up hating it and working in many other areas.

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I agree, bring it! I know when I was with students for their clinical or shadowing, their level of interest was directly related to my level of investment. If you wanted to know more, do more, see everything; I was happy to show you and seek out opportunities on your behalf, if you didn't seem to care, I was still going to try to engage you, but I was much less likely to go out of my to show you different things. Good luck!

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Specializes in PICU.

Bring it, but you may not be able to use it in an ICU, many patients have their own stethoscope in the patient's room. It can be an infection control risk

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Thanks everyone! I have been studying congenital heart abnormalities and all sorts of stuff so that I am prepared to ask appropriate questions etc. I hope it goes well, as this would be a wonderful opportunity!

Annie

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