[Northstar Angel]

I just spent about 2 fabulous hours reading posts about stethoscopes and what other people think is essential for nursing students and have a couple of questions:

1. Is there really a big difference between single tubing and double tubing? Also, are there other names for double tubing?

2. Is getting a double sided chest piece necessary for school or just the single one?

Thanks
Angelica

[KEL2BanRN]

Hi! I have been "shopping" for a steth for the past couple weeks, and I've narrowed it down to 2 - the Littman Classic II or an Ultrascope. I myself prefer a single tubing - I'm pretty small and I don't like how heavy the double tube ones feel to me. They pull down on my ears and they hurt - at least the cheap model that our school has does.
I like your second question - I'm watching this thread.

By the way, I just started a steth thread too, right before I saw yours. LOL

[Northstar Angel]

I never realized tubing could be so heavy! The two models you mentioned appears to be the most popular on this msg board.

I am getting ready to go shopping and give some a trial run. I have really small ears and hope I can find the ear parts that will fit comfortably. After quite a bit of searching, I finally found ear buds for my Ipod that don't hurt!

I'll read your thread now!
Angelica

[kayel]

I have a Littman Classic II and it's been great for me for the past year! I think the issue with the double tubing is that it could possibly cause extra noise if the two tubes somehow rubbed together. I have one of those also as someone gave it to me and I don't quite see how that could happen but I do much prefer my Littman .. the weight also really does make a difference and the ear pieces are a bit better, although still not ideal .. I haven't really looked to see if I can replace them with some that are more comfy.

Sorry no clue about the chest piece thingie ...what is that?

[samclaug]

Northstar Angel
Off the subject but what kind of ear buds did you find for your ipod. The ones that come with it make my ears hurt and I can only stand it for so long? Just curious and maybe want to give it a try.
Thanks
Sara

[Northstar Angel]

Hi, Sara

I got them from Brookstone. They are a little spendy (35.00) but they are sooo comfortable!!

Here's the link: http://brookstone.com/store/product....ne&prodtemp=t1

Hope that helps
Angelica

[Psqrd]

Originally Posted by Northstar Angel

I just spent about 2 fabulous hours reading posts about stethoscopes and what other people think is essential for nursing students and have a couple of questions:

1. Is there really a big difference between single tubing and double tubing? Also, are there other names for double tubing?

2. Is getting a double sided chest piece necessary for school or just the single one?

Thanks
Angelica

I know some people don't seem to mind the double tubing but I have always found that I get alot of noise from the tubes rubbing together, if even slightly it can interfere with hard to hear heart and lung sounds.
The double chest piece is necessary for some scopes that do not use the technology that littman uses in their diaphragm, press light for the wide normal size, then if you press harder it narrows so you hear both higher and lower pitched sounds depending on how hard you press...pretty cool! This is of course in the cardiology scopes that they have. I currenty use a littman classic II lightweight from when it was made metal (now they are mostly plastic)but I get tired of switching back and forth between the diaphragm and the bell..never seems to be on the one I need.
As soon as I graduate I'm buying the cardiology II scope...nice, but pricey.
P2

[kayel]

Originally Posted by Northstar Angel

Here's the link: http://brookstone.com/store/product....ne&prodtemp=t1

Awesome! My daughter and I have the same problem .. I am going to try to get some of those!

[Bonny619]

Our school instructed us to NOT get double tubing.

[kbenzrou]

I personally never paid attention to what kind of stethocope , on my first semester I bought the one that was available at the school bookstore and it is the double one and it has been working well for the last 4 semesters ....:-)