When did wearing a stethoscope become popular

rzyzzy · Jul 4, 2012

For clinicals in my program, your stethoscope had to be on your person at all times. Wasn't about looking cool. As for damage, the biggest problem with scopes is losing them, not damage- if yours lasts long enough to get damaged by skin oils, replace it & be happy.

tntrn, ASN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

At least 36 years ago, because that's when I was in nursing school. And not to look cool.....you need it all the time.....

tntrn, ASN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

At least 36 years ago, because that's when I was in nursing school. And not to look cool.....you need it all the time.....well, we did 36 years ago anyway, because we didn't use automatic BP machines.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

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I always covered mine. I made my own. I would have a couple of clean ones in my locker at all times and change it everyday. I've always worn mine, but in the late 70's early 80's the hospitals stopped providing them and leaving them in patients rooms. You need it with you as much as you need your shoes.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 4, 2012

I thought current evidence showed that cloth covers for stethescopes are not recommended as they are vectors for formites, many were innoculated with VRE, VRSA, MRSA and other bad bugs.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

So are your scrubs and shoes as well as the stethoscope itself.......

I agree one can't guarantee that they are washed, changed and clean. I am not recommending it I was showing what I have done in the past. I, however, was obsessive with the changing and cleaning of the cover and the scope itself. My other pet peeve is that most nurses fail to clean their watches, rings, scissors and hemostats.....yuck

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 4, 2012

So are your scrubs and shoes as well as the stethoscope itself.......
I agree one can't guarantee that they are washed, changed and clean. I am not recommending it I was showing what I have done in the past. I, however, was obsessive with the changing and cleaning of the cover and the scope itself. My other pet peeve is that most nurses fail to clean their watches, rings, scissors and hemostats.....yuck

Yes some people are walking formite factories. Hopefully people at least wash their scrubs I think most didn't think about washing their scope covers hence the incidents of hospital acquired infections linked to the scope covers. Just like the HAI linked to rings, watches, lab coats, fake fingernails, long hair and a few other things that one would think was common sense.

My instructor that was in charge of clinical rotations was pretty strict that we were not going to cause an infection with patients in a facility where we were guests. No rings, post earrings and no stones, no scope covers, socks must be calf-height or higher (and yes, she did check!) hair off collar... stethoscopes were to be carried in our pocket not around our neck.

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

i wear mine around my neck sometimes. sometimes i shove it in my scrub pocket, but it has a habit of falling out or getting caught on things. sometimes i leave it on the computer on wheels hoping it doesnt disappear. wherever i decide to adorn it, i never considered it a fashion statement, merely a tool i need to bring with me-- and ill put it wherever makes sense to me at the time. I make sure to wipe it down with sanicloths especially after leaving contact rooms, if it has come into contact with something yucky and before and after each shift.

this is a weird thread.

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

i wear mine around my neck sometimes. sometimes i shove it in my scrub pocket, but it has a habit of falling out or getting caught on things. sometimes i leave it on the computer on wheels hoping it doesnt disappear. wherever i decide to adorn it, i never considered it a fashion statement, merely a tool i need to bring with me-- and ill put it wherever makes sense to me at the time. I make sure to wipe it down with sanicloths especially after leaving contact rooms, if it has come into contact with something yucky and before and after each shift.
this is a weird thread.

I do the same. Sometimes around my neck, sometimes in my pocket. And I agree this is a weird thread :)

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

Yes some people are walking fomite factories. Hopefully people at least wash their scrubs I think most didn't think about washing their scope covers hence the incidents of hospital acquired infections linked to the scope covers. Just like the HAI linked to rings, watches, lab coats, fake fingernails, long hair and a few other things that one would think was common sense.
My instructor that was in charge of clinical rotations was pretty strict that we were not going to cause an infection with patients in a facility where we were guests. No rings, post earrings and no stones, no scope covers, socks must be calf-height or higher (and yes, she did check!) hair off collar... stethoscopes were to be carried in our pocket not around our neck.

It was linked to the stethoscope them selves even without the covers equally as well......people don't wash them either.

Socks? I always wore white support hose. But I am from the dark ages where we wore starched white uniforms and shoes with our caps.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 4, 2012

I never heard of it being "cool". I wear mine because I need it, and laying it down leads to the possibility of my $200 scope from "walking away"