[display_name id=”1″] They’re not. But nurses do use ‘scopes as part of assessing a patient.

First of all, no matter what nurses say, the average nurse (we’re not talking specialist nurse practitioners) listening to heart or lung sounds can figure out very little about what’s wrong with a patient, with few common exceptions. For example, almost anyone can recognize what a Mitral Valve Prolapse sounds like (a common heart murmur with a distinct ‘clicking’ sound).

But do they know other pathology, syndromes, or complications to look for when they hear that finding? Usually not, because nursing practice doesn’t focus on diagnosing and treating diseases, that’s what doctors do.

Do they know that say a murmur that they hear is caused by tricuspid valve stenosis? Or do they just hear a ‘grade iv murmur’? Some people have fairly irregular heart beats and/or murmurs that technically are innocent and mean very little. Without extensive testing, just listening to heart sounds actually tells you very little, unless the patient has *extensive* disease pathology or abnormality or very obvious disease/trauma/is in shock/dying. Doctors use heart sound auscultation as a tool to help them decide what to test for when looking for a possible diagnosis.

For example, let’s say you hear what you assume to be a ‘sinus tachycardia’ (are you seeing that on an EKG as well?). You as a typical nurse have no way of knowing for sure if that is due to anxiety, hyperthyroidism, medication, or an adrenal cyst. Or many other possibilities, including autonomic neuropathy. So really, a person with a rapid heart rate really tells you little without the doctor ordering further tests and analyzing the results. It is dangerous when nurses start thinking they can ‘diagnose’ without additional advanced practice training.

Most often, the job of the nurse is to recognize any (obvious) murmurs or pulse deficits and report them to the MD or Nurse Practitioner for follow up.

Listening to lung and bowel sounds is more common place and nurses simply have to note if bowel sounds are present/rate, and if lung sounds are clear. Nurses also use a ‘scope to check manual BPs, such as in the ICU, where patient’s often are too unstable to get an accurate reading from a machine (I.e. Irregular pulse).

Nurses do a lot more than most shows depict. They are front line workers performing total patient care. At the same time, people must understand that nurses perform nursing practice, which does not traditionally include complex diseases pathology diagnoses (that is what MDs do). So while nurses and MDs will use their stethoscopes for many of the same functions, the end result will be different.

*Generally speaking*, nurses who work in clinical settings do use scopes to assess and monitor patient’s conditions in general terms. They often will take blood pressures and ensure lung sounds are clear and bowel sounds are present. MDs use scopes to diagnose diseases and conditions.

So while a stethoscope is not technically a part of ANY healthcare uniform, it is a required tool for doctors, nurses, EMTs, Respiratory Therapists, etc.

Remember that you were watching a TV show. It’s very possible that there was humour, satire, or another meaning applied to that comment. One example may be how so many people think nurses just clean up vomit all day. So their stethoscope is just ‘part of their uniform’ and they don’t actually use it, just walk around looking’professional’ with it. 😉 Or the idea that someone would actually get into hot water for not wearing their stethoscope.

Hope this explains things!

[display_name id=”1″] Hello Michael.

Nurses in the AF wear the required uniform of the day.

While in the hospital they wear the standard AF uniform and usually a lab coat for routine work.
But in the operating room they wear approved hospital scrubs.

In the field, and under battle conditions they will most likely wear ABUs and scrubs if in operating rooms.

Why are you so concerned about the uniform of the day?

You will be instructed by your Hospital Commander as to what you will wear on any given day.

Concerntrate on college and 4 years of AF ROTC.

Besides, the AF is funny about uniforms.
We can’t seem to get uniforms that work more than 3 – 4 years without changing them.

So, by the time YOU get on active duty maybe we will all go back to the old-style uniforms.

Wait until you get there to worry about it.

Nursing in college is very intense.
Study and don’t worry about what you will wear in the next 6 years from now.

Best wishes.
Larry Smith
Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Ret.)
First Sergeant.

[display_name id=”1″]White is always pleasant and it’s the symbol of Piece and sacrifice.. Nurses sacrifice their lives , they serve the poor and diseased . White always suits them and it should continue..

[display_name id=”1″]As a nurse myself, I like the modern ones, but in school, we had to wear the whites with the cap and i was proud to do so
but really, having to starch and iron the cap, and the whites
is time consuming.
As a Hospice nurse we don’t wear uniforms, and I do miss them,
makes it easy to dress in the morning. And cheaper than always
having to think what will i wear today??? A real hassle.

[display_name id=”1″]I agree, don’t do white. Not only does it show panty lines, but it is hard to keep clean and doesn’t always look good for people that are larger.

All the nursing school uniforms I’ve seen are a solid color. Why not have one that is print? Or maybe do a solid bottom and a print top? The problem with that is, if there are any guys in the class, print tops usually aren’t unisex.

If you don’t have to wear all scrubs, you could wear scrub bottoms and polo shirt tops.