Got any stethoscope recomendations?

[RMT2RN]

I am a beginning nursing student and we are required to purchase our stethoscopes within the next few weeks. There are so many brands and quality levels. Littman seems to be widely used. I think I want to go ahead and get a nicer one for the sound quality since I will be working with it for several years (if it doesn't walk). I don't want to overspend though...I am a student after all. Any suggestions from you more experienced ones out there?

[amyk_ncsu]

I have the Littman Classic II SE and it works really well. When I took my CNA course, I definitely had an advantage over the people with the less quality ones. I paid about $70 for it 4 years ago and it has been a very good investment.

[Karen]

The Littmann Select is lightweight and good sound and good price, it is a good entry level stethoscope. Keep all your receipts tools for your job/uniforms are tax deductions.

[IrishItalianRN]

I have Cardiology III and LOVE it... i got it engraved so it wouldnt walk... (or walk as fast)

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

Like I said mine is great....try different brands & get the one that suits you!

Sorry! I wasn't meaning to slam your sprauge--I still have one! I didn't read any of the above posts before I replyed. I agree, try different ones, if you can borrow a few different types or ask the RNs you work with that is your best bet because everyone hears things differently.

[crb613, BSN, RN]

Sorry! I wasn't meaning to slam your sprauge--I still have one! I didn't read any of the above posts before I replyed. I agree, try different ones, if you can borrow a few different types or ask the RNs you work with that is your best bet because everyone hears things differently.

Hey thats ok...just a little worn out after too many short staffed nights! I wish I could hear w/the Littmans since the Sprague is so heavy to carry around your neck. I don't know about yours, but the tubes on mine smells awful....I have cleaned it w/about everything....still stinks!:chuckle We nicknamed it stinky.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Steths are like shoes. Try them on before you buy them, so you're not stuck with something you don't like. What works for one person isn't going to work for the other.

However, i went with a cheapie in school, to lessen the risk of theft.

I tried different scopes, the Welch Allyn one was horrible, the Ultrascope has worse acoustics than my cheapie, etc.

After graduation, i bought a Littmann II S.E. Lightweight. To me, the acoustics were GREAT, it felt featherlight on my neck, and the earpieces were MUCH more comfortable.