[intothemoon]

Do I need a special or high-dollar stethoscope for the ICU? What is your favorite?

[HappyJaxRN]

I would get a reliable one. You need to be able to hear clearly (high and low ends in the lungs, heart, and abd). With the cheaper ones, it's harder to hear and you can hear more background noise with them. A single tubing is better as well. Littman's are awesome. You might be able to find some good deals on eBay. There might be other brands that don't cost as much that will be fine. I'm not sure. I didn't take the chance. Went ahead and asked for (as a gift) the higher priced Master Cardiology III by Littman. I got it as a birthday gift from my parents....:hatparty:

[SE_OKIE_RN]

I work med/surg/telemetry-cardiac stepdown. I have a Littman as well, don't remember the model, but it is single bell, single tube and was about $125 and I think worth the price for the same reasons Jax stated

[papawjohn]

Hey Moon!!!

I'll sort of take a contrary view. There is a cheap (< $30) "sprague-rapaport-type" steth that I used for years. It has a large, heavy metal head that swivels from diaphragm to bell; there's two thick tubes to the ear pieces; it's fairly short. So it's really good at carrying sounds from the Pt's skin to your ears.

It's a bad steth if you have to walk up and down a long hall--too heavy. You have to learn over close to the Pt to use it--too short.

But it's a perfect steth if you have two pts close to each other and you really want to listen for that 'split S2' or 'fine rales'.

Cause the things that make a steth convient--make it less acoustically desirable. An easy steth to use is light weigh and has long, single tubing and it's flexible to hang around your neck or coil up and carry in your pocket.

And one consideration--all nurses sooner or later lose their steth. So an expensive one is a much bigger lose.

I have to admit that when my Mrs went into LPN school and realized I had the 'cheap' steth--she bought me a Littman Cardiology as a present. And it's pretty good. Which is lucky for me, cause I don't dare NOT use it.

Papaw John

[JiffyGriff]

I just bought a Littman Master Cardiology, I had to splurge and get the black edition of course just cuz it's sweet..... Anyways, I love it and everyone at work that just has to listen through it says they love it as well. The tunable diaphragm is nice because you don't have to have the bell on the other end of it making it heavier. However I see a lot of nurses in our ICU using the Littman Cardiology III which is basically the same steth only it has the physical bell on the other side that you rotate the chest peice for. I also hear that DRG has really nice stethescopes. Mine was $250.00 at the local store but I picked it up online for $161.00 from HM International....... www.hmint.com

[openheartmom3]

There is no question that the Littmans are the best...but remember the stethoscopes are only as good as the user. Take any chance you can to learn heart sounds and the abnormalities.... Oh and NEVER NEVER EVER leave your littman lying around.... as they tend to grow legs and walk away very quickly!

[PHOEBE RN]

The DRG Stethoscope is excellent. Bose helped manufacture it. Less expensive than Littman but has great acoustics!

[snowfreeze]

Littman Cardiology II for me, I bought a DRG love the acoustics but found it too cumbersome to carry on my neck all the time. I gave it to my daughter who works hospice in home so no one to snatch the scope from her if she sets it down.

[HeartsOpenWide]

My favorite is the $100.00 Littman I got for free from a drug rep!

[Summitk2]

Though not theft-proof, I suggest getting your name professionally printed on the tubing or engraved on the head. Name tags can be pulled or cut off easily.

Has anyone tried the ultrascopes? I've heard they're great but haven't tried/seen one yet. Plus they look really cool.