How to Use a Stethoscope

Not only doctors and related medical staff, but everyone should also learn the function of a stethoscope. This art will be much useful in hours of emergencies, esp at home premises or while you move around. Following are primary steps eliciting the use of a typical stethoscope: -

1. Hold it Upright:

Before using a stethoscope first try holding it with the help of its long stems utilizing both hands. The elongated twigs join the elastic rubber duct and the ear pieces. Let the whole apparatus straighten up before you could proceed with the next step. It will be advisable if you keep the chest piece so as to face the user, particularly, the user’s belly. This will make it evident on how to use a stethoscope.

It is pertinent to consider that the rubber tubing should not be warped when in use. This is of foremost significance for the beginners who try their hands at stethoscope.

2. Position the Ear Pieces

The ear pieces function as small receivers at the top ends of both long metal stalks. The length of stems that holds the ear pieces can be set farther apart. This has to be fit to the head of the user. Carry out all the required fine tuning and put in the ear pieces in your ear holes — definitely each to each ear.

As an additional tip regarding precise use of stethoscope is when the ear pieces are intact, don’t let anything touch with the soft tube. This checks sharp noises that inflict pain to the ears.

3. Pick the Chest Piece

To render stethoscope a very useful aid for novice users in determining the true depiction of heart beats and pulses, ensure that the chest piece is facing opposite from the operator. The chest piece is the round in shape and white in color, a little larger than a dollar coin. It is connected with a short metal stem and attached to the base of the flexible tube.

There is a round handle at the back of the chest piece. Always hold it from there and make sure that no part of the hand or finger touches the surface area of the chest piece.

The surface of the chest piece must come in contact with the chest, the back, or the point over arm where the main vein can be felt for a pulse of the patient. A complementary part of learning the use of a stethoscope is to know also how to place the chest piece properly on the part of the body that needs testing.

Inapt placement of the chest piece is the usual mistake done while you talk of stethoscope for novice users. There are significant points in the chest, back, and arm areas for this. Therefore appropriate and professional usage should be pursued only.