[nursingnewb]

i am a first year registered nursing student, and i suffer with mild hearing loss.
while attending my first quarter nursing classes, we began using our stethoscopes. i can hear blood pressure sounds well but have a hard time listening to the heart.

so the main reason for me posting was to get advice on an electronic stethoscope. i have seen the littmann 3000 and the thinklabs ds32a.
does anyone have any opinions on these models?

any other advice would be much appreciated.

[EricEnfermero]

I like the Littmann electronic stethoscopes. My only issue with them was the bulkiness and awkwardness of the 4100, but the 3000 looks more manageable.

[WishMeLuck]

Hi! I haven't started the program yet, but this has been heavily weighing on my mind. I have pretty bad hearing loss in my left ear with bad tinnitus and have been worrying that this is going to keep me from becoming a nurse.
I am concerned I won't be able to hear what I need to hear with the stethoscope. Would a certain type of stethoscope help with my problem? I was planning on getting the Littman ll - should that be sufficient. I'm glad to hear I am not the only one with this concern. Have you failed any of your testing because you weren't able to hear the sounds? Did you talk to your instructors about the problem? If so, what did they say? Thanks!

[Suesquatch]

I have bilateral mild loss, and have a monaural corrective aid in the right ear.

Before investing in the electronic scope I would TRY a good Littmann. They are satisfactory for me, although I can't hear much with the cheap ones.

[nursingnewb]

Originally Posted by WishMeLuck

Hi! I haven't started the program yet, but this has been heavily weighing on my mind. I have pretty bad hearing loss in my left ear with bad tinnitus and have been worrying that this is going to keep me from becoming a nurse.
I am concerned I won't be able to hear what I need to hear with the stethoscope. Would a certain type of stethoscope help with my problem? I was planning on getting the Littman ll - should that be sufficient. I'm glad to hear I am not the only one with this concern. Have you failed any of your testing because you weren't able to hear the sounds? Did you talk to your instructors about the problem? If so, what did they say? Thanks!

i didn't fail anything, but it was very difficult for me to hear what i needed to.

i currently have a littmann classic II S.E. stethoscope, which is better than the cheap ones at school, but it still isn't quite loud enough for me, hence the reason for asking about electronic stethoscopes.

if anyone has experience with an electronic stethoscope, whether it be the ones i listed or others, please let me know.

[Silverdragon102]

Originally Posted by nursingnewb

i didn't fail anything, but it was very difficult for me to hear what i needed to.

i currently have a littmann classic II S.E. stethoscope, which is better than the cheap ones at school, but it still isn't quite loud enough for me, hence the reason for asking about electronic stethoscopes.

if anyone has experience with an electronic stethoscope, whether it be the ones i listed or others, please let me know.

Have you tried searching the site. Here are a couple that I found

http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/steth...best-1962.html
http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/help-...af-259527.html

[grdngrl]

Students who are hard of hearing CAN be nurses! I have had students with two hearing aids do very well. First, try googling on stethoscopes, then go to the bottom of the page and type in hard of hearing, and you will get lots of info on stethocopes for those who are hard of hearing.

The next and most important thing, if you have not done so yet, is to see your Disabilities/ Learning Accommodations office at your school. Check for the listing in your student handbook or on your class syllabi. If it is not listed either of those places ( it should be) then see any student services counselor for assistance. You have rights to reasonable accommodation, and these folks will help you! You will need to bring in documentation from your doctor, but I do know "hard of hearing" is eligible for accommodation, including amplified phones and other devises. Best of luck in your Nursing career!

[StressQT]

I didn't get along w/ my nursing school very well. I graduated in May 2007 and I am taking the boards again in Feb. My instructors were not very understanding about my hearing loss at all. Many of them told me to my face that I wouldn't make a good nurse and that I would not pass the boards.
But my office of disabilities services coordinators were AWESOME!! They are the reason I got through nursing school. I'd recommend getting an opinion from a medical doctor. (When I took my pre-nursing physical I had to get an amplified stetoscope or else I wouldn't be allowed into the program.) And just google amplified stetoscopes online. Another good website to check out would be www.amphl.com, its a website for medical professionals w/ hearing loss. And they have stetscope recommendations on their site.

Stay strong,
Stacey

[nursingnewb]

i wanted to thank everyone for their responses, they were very helpful and have boosted my confidence.

[beverlydianne]

I am a nursing student. I have a hearing loss. I would suggest that you contact the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. This is a state office. In Ohio it is a division of Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission. They may pay for you to get an electronic stethoscope, if you have a hearing disability. I have an E-Scope (about $400) and it works great.
I wish you much success.
Bev :red pinkhe