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How long does your stethoscope usually last?


August 21st, 2022

Until someone walks off with it.

July 13th, 2023

Untill a doctor borrows it.

February 11th, 2023

My pops gave me his first stethoscope when I graduated. It’s a 35 year old Littmann. You can replace parts and send them in for tune-ups. :)

March 13th, 2023

It lasts as long as doctors want it to last once they swipe it its game over.

August 10th, 2023

You can get cute AirTag holder for your stethoscope. Makes it easier to find!

May 24th, 2023

Still using my sthoscope from nursing school 44 years ago.

February 28th, 2023

the scrub shops care a cloth cover for the tubing. I use an old ratty looking one so everyone thinks I have a crappy stethoscope...they don't' take it!!

February 26th, 2023

I’ve been a nurse for almost 11yrs and been through 3 lightweight littmans. Every single time it was bc someone stole it! 🫠

February 25th, 2023

Get a Littmann. They last and the Littmann company will repair.

February 13th, 2023

I still have the same stethoscope that I bought when I began nursing school 10 years ago. It’s a forest green Littman cost me $100 and it still works just as well as it did the first day I bought it.

August 23rd, 2023

Until it walks away!🤓

September 14th, 2023

Don’t hang it on your rear view mirror

March 11th, 2024

I still have the Master Cardiology Stethoscope that I bought and have used full time from 1987 to present. Direct patient care 35 years and counting. Try not to keep any stethoscope of value in extreme temperatures, like leaving it in the car. Also, NEVER PUT IT DOWN. LOL

June 14th, 2023

My Littman lasted about 10 years before it got stiff (wearing it around my neck kept it from growing legs). I replaced the hose, stopped wearing it around my neck and within a few weeks it was gone.

June 9th, 2023

I've had my current one for 7 years. I bought a bat wing holder at the same time. It clips onto my pocket so I don't have oils and sweat from my body on it. That way it will last longer.

January 31st, 2023

I have had the same one since I graduated from
Nursing school in 2001. It was used heavily until 2016 and has been sitting mostly unused in my closet since then. When I picked it up recently (going back to patient care) I noticed it was getting stiff but still sounds good. It’s a Littman Cardiology.

February 1st, 2024

Keep it around your neck at all times, can last almost forever (Littmann Cardiology)

November 25th, 2023

I’m in my third this year, so yes, as long as you can keep it off the hands or others. :)

November 23rd, 2023

You mean before you lose it? The longest I’ve had a stethoscope is 8 hours then it becomes a shared and then it disappears.

October 20th, 2023

I’ve had my littman cardiology for 4 years. I also have an amplifying stethoscope I’ve only had for 2 years. I HAD another amplifying one BEFORE that until someone walked off with in when I was in an isolation room 😒😒. RUDE 😂

September 21st, 2023

I have had my stethoscope for 25 years lol. Just recently I noticed a crack in the tubing. I am retiring it and I am placing it in a shadowbox with other Nurse paraphernalia from my travels and my life as a nurse. I currently have an echo, which was the best investment I’ve ever made I love it.

August 27th, 2023

Never leave it in the car if you live in a cold environment, it will crack and never work again. Make sure your name is in it. Put several name devices on it and gorilla glue, they won’t like that. After your shift don’t throw it in your bag. Try and buy a cushioned make- up bag to store it. The more you take care of it the longer it will last. I have an EKO and I never take it off. It cost we a lot of money and I don’t have 3-400.00 to burn. I’ve always been ER/ICU so it’s with me all the time. You could also look up Kohala clip which clips to your pants and hold your stethoscope securely. Hope this helps you. 😊

January 26th, 2023

I have an ultrascope. It was like $30 15 years ago with a lifetime warranty. I have replaced every piece of it except the bell and all I had to do was pay shipping for the parts. Working home health was the worst on my stethoscope due to change in temperature constantly. This caused the tubing color to change and it was starting to dry rot.

March 23rd, 2024

❌🚫🛑When a physician ask for to borrowing my stethoscope… Politely I reply
“ I’m so sorry but I don’t this is a good idea! I have some bad OTITIS!!!!”
I’ve been tired to chase the doctors that borrow my expensive stethoscope and “always” forget to return it

March 20th, 2024

Depends on if dog gets ahold of it. Honestly mine have lasted 5 yrs depends on how being used general wear and tear.

February 27th, 2024

Nhi pta

February 27th, 2024

Mine usually last three years before they’re stolen. I now buy only adscope/ADC stethoscopes. They’re the same quality as Littman but about half the cost AND they have a lifetime warranty. If your tubing is stiff, send it in. Missing the ear tips or your diaphragm is falling off? They’ll send you new ones. I don’t know how people can perpetuate the virtues of Littman scopes…

January 20th, 2024

My Littmann lasted 30 yrs but eventually the plastic sleeve around the bell crumbled & rendered it useless.

December 28th, 2023

Until you find a cooler one. $$$ go Big you'll be amazed.

December 21st, 2023

Forever? My Littman stethoscope is 23 years old.It was gifted to me when I got into the nursing program. I had to recently replace the bell cover but it is going strong. It has traveled with me on many overseas service trips. It almost walked off my unit but I have my name engraved on it so it came back to me after a few days.

December 8th, 2023

Not very long if you work at my hospital. Kleptomaniac doctors.

December 7th, 2023

Yep....that's right. If you don't leave it unattended someplace you'll have it for a long time. I lost a Littman Cardio 2 that got lifted from a LOCKED med room by a fellow RN.

December 5th, 2023

You’ll prob lose it before anything happens to it. Luckily I still have my first expensive-ish MDF bought in 2012 and only had to replace the ear pieces.

November 23rd, 2023

I put a Tile on mine so I can ring it on my phone. An Apple AirTag might do the same thing but not sure how you would attach it. Mine has a hole in the corner that fits perfectly. They tend to grow legs n walk away and got tired of replacing them!

November 14th, 2023

Forever! I have an Ultrascope that comes with FREE lifetime part replacement. Ive replaced the ears 3 times and tubing twice. Customer service is always awesome.

November 1st, 2023

when its gone you either join the cycling of stethoscopes or you buy a new one might be for a week or 30 yrs.

October 29th, 2023

Take really good care of it. Never ever leave in your car with cold weather as it will crack and break. By yourself a special small insulated bag to put it in. Put as many name tags on your stethoscope. It was not so much my stethoscope that walked it was always my pens.
31years RN

October 6th, 2023

Utill its lost or stolen lol no really im tellibg the truth

September 10th, 2023

My parents gave me a Littman when I first graduated in 2011. It lasted about 9 years and one day it literally broke in half! I then got an MDF brand; it was okay—good length but it’s on the heavy side. Now I bought myself an ADC brand and love it so far—lightweight and picks up sounds so much better.

August 9th, 2023

10 years

August 7th, 2023

I still have the one I used in school and the baby one I used in the NICU: 20 + years! If you still have your school one, keep it for good luck

August 6th, 2023

Use pledge furniture spray on the tube ! It works well.

August 5th, 2023

about 2 year

August 2nd, 2023

My Littmann Cardiology is 23 yrs old, run over when I was working on the ambulance. Rebuilt and still going strong!

July 30th, 2023

Yes, the answer is a good one, but I must also add that (unfortunately) there are fellow nurses out there who will also take your stethoscope, especially if you are a traveler and they can use it freely once you are gone. I had a beautiful Littman Cardio 2 and one day while I was cleaning up the med room, I hung it on the back of the med room door. At end of shift I walked out to my car and realized I had left it. I immediately went back inside and it was already gone. I was very upset and HURT that one of the people who I had been working side-by-side with, coaching, teaching, and encouraging for 3 months would do such a thing. The next time my contract came up for renewal I declined to extend. When the administrator asked why, I told him that I no longer cared to work in that kind of environment and that the experience caused me to feel differently about my coworkers....it literally changed who I was and I didn't want to be there anymore.

I have been told that very few nurses don't have a stethoscope stolen at some point in their career and it's not that big a deal. Sorry, but after giving them the very best of me through TWO tough surveys I felt that I deserved better.

July 15th, 2023

Same!!! Until someone walks off with it! Lol

July 13th, 2023

I still have original from graduation in 1985. However, it went from being pink to a faded orange-yellow due to age. So needless to say, I have recently replaced it. Haha1

July 12th, 2023

Littmann is the way to go.

July 6th, 2023

It depends on how much you use it. The tubing wears out and gets stiff, but you can replace just the tubing if you have a quality stethoscope.

June 19th, 2023

a loooong time, I had one that lasted my whole LVN career and got a new one when I started my RN program.. unless you slam between your car and trunk after a home care visit.. then not so long, from experience I don't recommend doing this. It was my new one too :(

June 14th, 2023

16 years and going strong… Littman

May 24th, 2023

I bought a Littman and had mine engraved. That decreased the likelihood of someone trying to take it as theirs.

May 15th, 2023

Indeed the absolute truth and you may not see them again! If you do, they have amnesia, especially if it your nice “cardio”. 🤗

April 4th, 2023

I have one that is 20 years old...my BP cuff didn't last but that scope intends to outlive me .

March 8th, 2023

someone broke in my car and stole it and my glasses a while back. If not, should be for a very long time

February 15th, 2023

mine has always lasted just past the 10 year warranty!

August 21st, 2022

Typically depends on how you handle it .