What should we be buying?

IndyElmer · May 13, 2012

I solved this problem by paying about $11 extra and having my name engraved on my stethoscope. :) Plus it's bright pink so not easily confused with others.

Although it hasn't happened to me, I've heard that fun colors and engraving are "better than nothing" but not as much of a deterrent to someone deciding it's OK to snag a stethoscope that was temporarily left behind as one might have thought.

ImKosher · May 21, 2012

I solved this problem by paying about $11 extra and having my name engraved on my stethoscope. :) Plus it's bright pink so not easily confused with others.

It will still walk away, engraved or not. Please be careful with your stethoscope. Please keep it on you at all times. Had another stethoscope "Littman" walk away from a EMT student who left it in the bathroom at my facility.

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · May 21, 2012

HI Everyone! I just wanted to say I have 5 clinical experiences under my belt at 5 different hospitals (Im a senior) and I heard a lot about this and people warning not to get. Now I'm sure it does happen but I've forgotten mine in a patients room twice when I went to lunch and I've really ahd no trouble with losing itor it disapearing. One of my clinical instructors said she had lost her littman at work and she had since nursing school so about 30 years and then at the end of the semester she actually found it on her unit someone had stuck it in a cabinet when they found it so it wouldn't get lost :) I'm not saying people don't ever steal but I also would not change haven gotten my Littman when I started and maybe some areas or worse I don't know but so far I will hopefully make it out with mine safe and sound. Of course now that I wrote this it will be sure to disapear. ahhaha

IndyElmer · May 21, 2012

I'm got a Littman, despite the warnings about it getting lost. A fun color and/or engraving can't hurt, but it's certainly no guarantee against it walking off. I hope I'll still be using mine in 20 or 30 years too :)

IndyElmer · May 22, 2012

Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care by Betty J. Ackley and Gail B. Ladwig was the best one i'd found.

Be careful which books you buy ahead. I've heard rave reviews about the Ackley/Ladwig book, but I've also heard that some instructors at my school will NOT let you use it. (Well, you can use it, but your care plan will get marked down.) There's a different author/title that they insist we use, no matter that nearly everyone says that Ackley/Ladwig is easier to use.

ImKosher · May 22, 2012

Don't get me wrong, I just ordered a Littman Classic II s.e. for myself as well. I just hope my fellow NS will be careful not to lay it down anywhere.