When did wearing a stethoscope become popular

[Katniss88]

I have heard the wearing a stethoscope around your neck damages the tubing because of the oils in your skin. So when did wearing a stethoscope around the neck become popular? I know as nursing students we all do it because we want everyone to know were in nursing school and we think it looks cool. I see some nurses wearing their's around their neck and some just leave it somewhere.

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

i tend to think that it's usually worn around the neck for convenience sake. Keeps it handy, keeps the docs from swiping them too. It does crack me up when people display them unnecessarily though (i.e. walking up from the lot... keeping it around one's neck after work while walking through the supermarket, hanging from rearview mirror just to name a few). Reminds me of when a friend of mine was going through emt school and carried gloves every where and would don them randomly because he thought he looked really cool and prepared that way (his words!)

Since i don't really use mine all day long like i used to on the floor, i just hang mine on a hook behind my desk. Granted, no doctors around to clip my littman any more in a school health office

I know some of my classmates walk in from the parking lot that way or I had a friend that hung it from their rearview mirror. I don't do these things but I don't mind when my classmates do it.I say why not-be proud!

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I know some of my classmates walk in from the parking lot that way or I had a friend that hung it from their rearview mirror. I don't do these things but I don't mind when my classmates do it.I say why not-be proud!

The review mirror thing has another use, if you drive fast anyways

[Abigail612]

Were I go to school we have to have them on us at all times plus you dont want them taken or miss placed however we are warned not to wear them around our necks because if a patient becomes angry and want to hurt you they can grab it and and either choke you with it or have you in a defenseless position.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I know some of my classmates walk in from the parking lot that way or I had a friend that hung it from their rearview mirror. I don't do these things but I don't mind when my classmates do it.I say why not-be proud!

A stethoscope on a rearview becomes a projectile during a hard stop! I can be plenty proud without getting a black eye from my Litmann! (also - don't want doctors breaking into my car to steal my stethoscope!! kidding!)

[thomasphan]

My nursing school says it is not good for you because of infections

[Tragically Hip]

Are you seriously trying to tell me that this is not epically cool? Really?

Even if I wash out of nursing school, I'll still have that binaural fashion statement.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Why did they always wear the cheap ones.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Why did they always wear the cheap ones.

Shhhh..... Don't tell anyone. They aren't real doctors.....

[Tragically Hip]

I think they used MDF stethoscopes on Scrubs and House.

In episode 53 of Scrubs, "Dr. Kelso goes temporarily deaf after using cheap stethoscopes."

[mz.snuggly1]

LOL! TOO FUNNY!

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Shhhh..... Don't tell anyone. They aren't real doctors.....

What!!!! No way!

Seriously though Hollywood has more money than doctors so no excuse. Somehow almost every character on Nurse Jackie has the $$$ Littmann Electronic ones ( I so covet I have stethoscope envy )

[amoLucia]

I used to hang my scope on my rearview mirror as did my sister until...She was pulled over by a cop and was informed it was against our State's Motor Vehicles Regs for windshield obstruction by the scope. Fortunately, cops are usually nice to nurses, so she just removed it per his instruction. That's when I stopped hanging it also.

I used to always wear it around my neck but I found that as my scope got older, it would lose its flexibility and 'stiffen' into a loop. Happened to many of my scopes so I stopped draping it. As a staff nurse, I always had it handy. But as supervisor, I don't always take it out. A real nuisance when I'd have to go to 'pronounce' or troubleshoot a GT or SOB pts for another staff nurse and then I realize that I forgot my scope.