When did wearing a stethoscope become popular

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

I have a holster for it, because I don't want my germs on it.

coco.nut · Jul 4, 2012

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.

Looks cool? Who looks cool in scrubs, especially nursing school scrubs??!! :lol2:

Pets to People · Jul 4, 2012

Actually this post should be titled "When did it become popular NOT to wear a stethascope?". I have noticed more and more during clinicals that has become rare to see a floor nurse actually wearing one. And I had a friend who started as a new grad and was teased about wearing hers, as if she thought she was smarter or better than the other nurses by "showing off" her stethascope.

morte, LPN, LVN · Jul 4, 2012

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.

hmm it is a good way to get strangled.....

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

do doctors wear stethoscopes around their neck because they think they look cool? ok, neither do we. lol.

we wear 'em 'cuz we use 'em. d'oh!

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Jul 4, 2012

I tend to keep mine in my pocket for two reasons. One I have one of the heavier cardio chest pieces and the weight can hurt my neck after awhile secondly in my first week of nurse I had a patient accidentally strangle me because I was helping him turn in bed and he grabbed each end of my scope instead of the side rails. I tried using a holster but I found the weight of he scope gradually pulled my pants down.

KatePasa · Jul 4, 2012

I wear mine in my scrub pocket, lest it fall in poop or emesis or smack a patient in the face. I prefer a shorter tube stethoscope, so mine look a little bizarre around the neck anyway.

allnurses Guide · Jul 4, 2012

As a NP I still wear mine around my neck and it has nothing to do with being cool. I use it for every visit and if I put it in my pocket each time I pull it out it puts my pocket guides on the floor.

Patti_RN · Jul 4, 2012

After wearing the darn thing all day, my neck aches! If someone is wearing one for a status symbol, they'd do better with a Porshe!

jtmarcy12, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

The dean of my nursing school said we should put our stethscope in our coat pocket. I did that thoughtout nursing school and no longer was able to keep a coat on so I stated wearing it around my neck. I saw her reasoning for nurses to do that but it became impractical keeping my stethscope in any of my pockets.

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2012

If it's around my neck, I always know where it is.

QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 5, 2012

I don't wear it around my neck because I think it looks 'cool'.' I wear it because it's easy access to grab before doing an assessment on a patient (and it shows my instructor that I brought it to clinical!). Honestly, I HATE wearing it around my neck. It feels heavy and bothersome. After I'm done with my morning assessment(s), I often shove it in my scrub pocket.

It's not a fashion accessory (and I have yet to think of one nursing student who views it as such), it's an instrument to be used in the clinical setting, no different or exciting than a penlight.