Are all stethescopes the same?

Mkue · Aug 4, 2002

hi, i've been hearing that littman cardiology iii are really nice, one of the best, so i got one. compared to the cheaper one i have, it is much better for clarity and sound.

and it was 30% off !

Dayray, RN · Aug 4, 2002

Definatly not. It's really hard to hear with some of the cheeper ones. I use a Cardiology II (had it for 10 years still works great). Light wieghts are pretty good too and a littel less expensive $40 - $60 I think

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 4, 2002

Nope, you usually get what you pay for. I would not use a cheepie in a place where you need to identify breath and cardiac sounds with any accuracy.

kittyw · Aug 4, 2002

Oh gosh no .... just try using the disposable ones that they have for contact isolation patients!!! Couldn't hear a darn thing .... ummmm are we sure this patient has lungs and a heart? Cause with that thing I couldn't tell!! :chair:

I too have the Littman cardio III ... rather spend $$ on one than $ on one & $$ later on a 2nd one!

Love-A-Nurse · Aug 4, 2002

originally posted by student321
are some better than others in regards to sound and clarity. can you hear the beating of a heart louder in some stethescopes than others?

welcome to the board! they are not all the same when it comes to the sound and clarity.

OrthoNutter · Aug 4, 2002

I've got a Littman Master Classic II....it does me fine for what I need. That's what you need to ask yourself before you buy one....

Audreyfay · Aug 4, 2002

I have a Littman Cardiology III stethoscope. It works great for assessments. However, if you are working on a unit in which your patients aren't as critical (postpartum, psych).. a cheaper one would work. The big thing to consider is....is there a chance you would lay your stethocope down and lose it? I started with a mid-range stethoscope and later graduated to the Cardiology stethoscope when I worked in step-down ICU.

mark_LD_RN · Aug 5, 2002

lLithman is only way to go I have a cardiology III now really like it. i still have my old cardiology Ii that works great also. even the light weight one has good sound, i keep that one in my care for emergencies.

i have used several others and have found none equal to the littman.