Where do you put your stethoscope?

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Just finished my first semester (yeah!) and can't get my last clinical rotation out of my head. My instructor stated that we should keep our steths in our pocket and not around our neck. She claimed that it was unprofessional and only doctors and nurses on TV wear them around the neck. Eventhough I've seen plenty of professional staff with it around their necks, I've tried to comply, but twice ended up knocking the cap off of my markers and ended up ruining my uniforms which are white. Also with all the stuff we're expected to carry around in our pockets, it takes me forever to take out the steth without papers, 4x4s, etc. joining up. So, just wondering what everyone else does.

around my neck whats wrong with your teacher lol

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I wear mine around my neck. I once had this same conversation with my husband (who is an RN) and he said when he was in school they would get admonished for putting stethoscopes in their pockets. I think it's just the instructor's preference.

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Specializes in CNA.

Yeah. Pulling a stethoscope out of your pocket - along with everthing else in there and dumping it on the floor is real professional.

The general rule is that your instructor has the last word. Even when they are acting like a moron.

I'd go with the belt clip then ditch it when you get away from that prof.

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Just finished my first semester (yeah!) and can't get my last clinical rotation out of my head. My instructor stated that we should keep our steths in our pocket and not around our neck. She claimed that it was unprofessional and only doctors and nurses on TV wear them around the neck. Eventhough I've seen plenty of professional staff with it around their necks, I've tried to comply, but twice ended up knocking the cap off of my markers and ended up ruining my uniforms which are white. Also with all the stuff we're expected to carry around in our pockets, it takes me forever to take out the steth without papers, 4x4s, etc. joining up. So, just wondering what everyone else does.

The instructions that came with my Littman recommend against wearing it around the neck, because the oils from skin can damage the tubing. I usually wear it around my neck, though. That way I always know where it is. I don't have room in my pockets. I don't really want to wear it on my hip, because I'm afraid of banging it or catching it on things, or having it come into contact with things I'd rather it not.

Congrats on finishing your first semester! :up:

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

How is it not unprofessional for Doctors to wear it around the neck but it is unprofessional for nurses. Makes no sense. I wear mine around my neck and I clean it after each use. I don't have enough room in my pockets for it and I don't think I would like the clip on the waist because the weight of the scope on one side and nothing to even it out on the other would drive me nuts. Plus it probably make my pants fall off :|

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Specializes in interested in NICU!!.

I normally put it around my neck and sometimes in a pocket if I'm wearing a lab coat.

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I'm a real nurse and I don't play one on TV. I wear it around my neck. You have to be cautious though, it could be used to choke you (if you work in ER for example). I take it off around patients that are twitchy. Have your instructor email me, I'd like to discuss her perspective on professionalism.

I know one solution to that, that I saw someone that used to be an EMT post on here, that was taught to her after she WAS choked by a hostile patient with her stethoscope, is to if that that is a risk, but that is where is handy for you to keep it, have it just lay over your shoulder, not wrap the whole way around your neck....earpieces in the front, head in the back....then if a hostile patient does grab it,they can only grab one end, and then they have the head of the stethoscope flying at them, which they will have to react to, and it will give you time to react.....wish i knew were i saw that post.

edit....i found the post......post number 8 on this thread https://allnurses.com/nursing-stethoscope/classic-ii-se-495553.html

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Ears, definitely in my ears :)

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I wear mine around my neck. I once had this same conversation with my husband (who is an RN) and he said when he was in school they would get admonished for putting stethoscopes in their pockets. I think it's just the instructor's preference.

I think you are right. :up:

I couldn't wear it over one shoulder . . . .it would just slide off all the time.

Nor would I like to wear it on a belt clip. Or in my pocket as other folks have said - too much other stuff in there.

Around the neck makes perfect sense to me.

steph

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Lets see it really depends.

Trauma pants - in the pocket

Scrubs - over the nexk or one shoulder depending on the room

Feeling like I have a feather up my bum I carry it in a pocket, but it HAS to be the left cargo pocket, no others. Im very OCD about what goes in what pocket

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Specializes in geriatrics.

We were routinely calling code whites on my unit. The only reason many of us didn't wear it around the neck very often was because pts would try to grab at it, and or try to strangle in some cases. But unprofessional? No.

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around my neck

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