Good place to get first stethoscope?

anonymousstudent · Jul 14, 2011

My advice would be to buy a CHEAP stethoscope, and then ask other students if you can try theirs out. Some people have an easier time with some verses other kinds. I'm not really sure what makes the difference.

Don't keep your cheapo for very long though. I was working with another student in our OB rotation who was trying to get the baby's heart beat and she just couldn't do it. I lent her mine and she picked it up immediately.

LuckyinKY · Jul 14, 2011

Do not go out and buy a fancy stethoscope. They disappear or get lost. You can get a used Littmann on Ebay or buy a brand like Kila which is almost as good and a fraction of the cost. My stethoscope is part Littman and part Kila and works great.

skulskcc01 · Jul 14, 2011

I also start a nursing program this fall. I purchased mine from the all heart website. I chose a Littmann classic 2, it was about $70. I originally bought a $50 kit that contained a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff. I tried it out once I was home. It was horrible, I could not hear anything. My mother, a veteran nurse could not detect any heart sounds either. I would rather pay a little more money and have a stethoscope that I can actually use.

pitaya · Jul 14, 2011

I also start a nursing program this fall. I purchased mine from the all heart website. I chose a Littmann classic 2, it was about $70. I originally bought a $50 kit that contained a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff. I tried it out once I was home. It was horrible, I could not hear anything. My mother, a veteran nurse could not detect any heart sounds either. I would rather pay a little more money and have a stethoscope that I can actually use.

I second the notion that you should pay more for one that's comfortable and actually allows you to hear heart and lung sounds! I don't know how people hear anything on those cheapos. LOL And I also got the classic 2 Littman from allheart.com. I got a funky color (for some reason, I've never seen someone else with a periwinkle steth) and a name engraving so I'd like to see someone try to steal that!!!

lovesroses · Jul 14, 2011

If there are any stores near you that let you try them out before buying that would be the place to go to. I did that for CNA class but when I went again a couple weeks ago they wouldn't let me try them out again. Otherwise I second what anonymousstudent said. I borrowed others and found that I heard out of someone's adscope better than the littman my aunt gave me that she loves (RT)!

gunrock · Jul 14, 2011

Check out eBay and even Amazon.

I completely disagree about getting a cheap stethoscope. Some heart sounds and lung sounds are going to be hard enough for you to discern starting out...

My program recommended the Littman Classic II SE, it has a dedicated bell and diaphragm. This is the stethoscope I recommend for most people, it's about 70 dollars on Amazon and is a great all around stethoscope.

I have the master classic II, which has the tunable diaphragm and bell, it's something that took time to get used to, but it works great and i love it.

Getting a nicer stethoscope doesn't mean you need to go out and buy a 200-300 dollar stethoscope. Your stethoscope is probably the one piece of equipment you will use more than anything, so invest the $100 for a nice one.

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Jul 14, 2011

you can go to a scrub shop usually or medical supply and they will let you try them out, and then you can go online and buy them for MUCH cheaper - thats what I did...I got a Littman Classic II SE and I ordered from medisave.net - free shipping and engraving!