How to say no when someone asks for your stethoscope?

Hi everyone,I'm a nursing student, and I've been asked a By a couple of people to borrow my stethoscope. I REALLY don't like loaning it out for a couple of reasons. I kind of thinks it's gross, I mean they go in your ears lol. And I'm also afraid it will grow legs and walk away... But as a lowly nursing student i feel awkward refusing these requests. Any suggestions as a good way to say no? Thanks,
I have the same fears, and have known people who have gotten ear infections from what can only be attributed to sharing stethoscopes (we keep a stethoscope in each room due to isolation). If for some reason I'm using my own and someone asks to barrow it, I simply say "I'm a germ-o-phobe and I don't loan mine out, sorry." Or you could always tell them you've been draining green pus from your ear canal!

Use the wipes! At least everyone so far in my experience had the courtesy to wipe the ear pieces before loaning or returning. As for the steth growing legs, I just watch the person like a hawk until my property is returned. Doesn't matter whether I'm a lowly student and the other person is the chief of neurosurgery. What is mine is mine. I do the same for pens, because I got sick of losing so many pens over the years in healthcare. I am very possessive of my pens!

It is OK to say no. You don't owe anyone an explanation. Aside from that, clean the earpieces. I hand mine over when someone asks, and have never had an issue. As far as scopes disappearing, I guess that must depend on where you work. I've left mine laying around and it always turns back up. As a matter of fact, I often leave it hanging on a hook outside an isolation room (to dry after I've wiped it down) and a few months ago I forget it there and then was off work for almost a week. When I came back it was hanging on the sharps box in the med room. It isn't the fanciest, but its a nice littman.

Make sure it's engraved if it's something that would be hard to replace. You don't have to let someone borrow it. If you choose to, clean the ear pieces and know who you are lending it to. I've loaned mine to a doctor and he went back to his office with my steth in his pocket accidentally. About an hour later he ran back in and said "my nurse pointed out plum isn't my color. Hope you didn't miss it too much."

Quote from eatmysoxRNMake sure it's engraved if it's something that would be hard to replace. You don't have to let someone borrow it. If you choose to, clean the ear pieces and know who you are lending it to. I've loaned mine to a doctor and he went back to his office with my steth in his pocket accidentally. About an hour later he ran back in and said "my nurse pointed out plum isn't my color. Hope you didn't miss it too much."

Quote from emt... rn studentHi everyone,I'm a nursing student, and I've been asked a By a couple of people to borrow my stethoscope. I REALLY don't like loaning it out for a couple of reasons. I kind of thinks it's gross, I mean they go in your ears lol. And I'm also afraid it will grow legs and walk away... But as a lowly nursing student i feel awkward refusing these requests. Any suggestions as a good way to say no? Thanks,

I think sharing is caring. Ear canal is just a skin and as long as you wipe it, there is no problem. Just let them know that you want it back asap and he/she owes you one. Good way to build a team work, but if it is a same person asking for it again and again, you need to say enough is enough and get their own.

Quote from emt... rn studentHi everyone,I'm a nursing student, and I've been asked a By a couple of people to borrow my stethoscope. I REALLY don't like loaning it out for a couple of reasons. I kind of thinks it's gross, I mean they go in your ears lol. And I'm also afraid it will grow legs and walk away... But as a lowly nursing student i feel awkward refusing these requests. Any suggestions as a good way to say no? Thanks,

Sorry I need it myself right now.

Tell them sure, but you have ear herpes. I find that buying a bright girly colored one keeps most of the docs from stealing it, they tend to steal navy and black ones.

Funny you should say that, mine is very pink

You could always say " Sure! lend me something of yours so we dont forget, and if you could wipe it down when your done that would be great!"They will either not want to bother (my own experience) or go to such hassle. Or they will actually return it!