Do stethoscopes expire!

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I would like to have a decent steth when I start Nursing school in Jan. A friend of mine has a Littman she received as a graduation present 10 yrs ago! She 'thought' she wanted to be a nurse at that time, lol, but she changed her mind quickly and never even used the thing.

So, do scopes expire? She said she'd be interested in selling it. I do know it was about $100 new, but that was 10 yrs ago.............

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Specializes in Neurosciences, Med-Surg-CNA.

I don't know for sure, but I would think that the tubing might be a little old, so you might want to replace that. You might also want to check the ear pieces to make sure they are still ok and not broken. You might have to end up spending as much getting new parts as you would to just get a whole new one altogether. Good luck with nursing school!!

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Good idea!

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I would just go with a new one.

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Specializes in Cardiac Stepdown.

I would get a new one as well, not being sure how the stethoscope was stored. I do know after years of carrying my stethoscope around my neck, the tubing does get hard thus the thing is harder to hear through.

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Specializes in ICU.
So, do scopes expire?

I haven't seen any expire, but have seen some pretty sick ones "circling the drain.":D

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Well, no worry, the scope works, but it doesn't have a bell, lol.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

i still have (and use as a back-up) the littman nursing scope given to me decades ago by dr. littman. my other scope is a cardiology scope (also a littman) i bought for myself in 1994 or 1995. i've never had to have anything replaced on either, although the nursing scope has a lovely bend in the tubing from being worn around my neck.

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I also have a Littman Cardiology I that I bought second hand.

It's loud and clear though the binaural is too short and the ear pieces hurt my ears. And I think 3M wants like $80 to sell me replacements...

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Specializes in Obstetrics.

I would grab it! I had a Littman that I loved until someone stole it.:cry:

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Specializes in NICU.

You can replace almost everything on a Littman. Depending on the type, binaurals including eartips, earpieces and tubing all together cost from about $32 to $80 for a master cardiology set. I like Steeles for parts (http://www.steeles.com). When the tubing gets bent into a loop, it's worth buying a new set. Even a new color! My cat has left toothmarks in mine, and also chewed up earpieces, but it's still cheaper to replace than to buy a new stethoscope.

One hint: if you are changing out the tubing, place everything flat on a table so the angle is right when you start to push it together. If it's not, you can't adjust it once you have started.

Go ahead and buy it, but price the same type first and allow for replacement parts if the tubing is hard.

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