The Great 'Scope Debate

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

What's your favorite?

Is there any difference, acoustically, between the Littman Classic and Littman Lightweight? What about between brands?

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I've only been using it for a month so I can't speak to the longevity of it, but I have this R.A. Bock scope: http://www.amazon.com/Bock-Cardiology-Dual-Head-Stethoscope-Chestpiece/dp/B000W22Z5Y

It's supposed to be a close copy of the Littman Cardiology. I have used my classmates' Littman's and I really can't tell the difference between theirs and mine. My father in law gave it to me as a birthday gift, he is a doctor and he says he has used his for the last 20+ years and loves it. I can definitely hear the difference between mine, and the junky "community" scopes that the school provides so I would definitely say it is worth it to invest in quality.

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.

Purchased the Littman Lightweight in nursing school. Told myself that once I graduated and started practicing I would get something real nice for a present to myself. Still using my Littman lightweight.

It works really good. I tried a few other styles and one other brand and I noticed a slight difference, but really not enough to spend a ton of money on. I think you start to "know" what sounds to look for to hear them. Not saying that I am that good, just saying that when you know what to look for makes up for some of it.

One say I will get something nice, but right now I just love having a paycheck.

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I have the littman Classic SE II & I love it. The alumni gave us a free littman lightweight on our first day, but I went & bought the classic. Once I graduate, I plan to buy the cardiology III.

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Specializes in ICU.

I have the Cardiology III. You can hear a huge difference between the off brands. Some people couldn't even get BP with theirs. I would loan them mine and they were like wow, what a huge difference. Using it in clinical right now and love it.

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I love my Cardio III. it is, however, a bit heavy on my neck all shift. I have a Classic SE II which I used throughout nursing school and it served me well. I do hear cardiac sound better with the cardiology, but I find that lung sounds nearly deafen me, haha. I see a lot of people with respiratory issues, more so than cardiac, so I carry both in my bag and choose according to my patients that day. Both good scopes.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

I am on my second Cardiology iii (first one the tubing cracked a day after warranty ended grrrr) I started having a hard time hearing clearly out of my SE about a year after school so upgraded and can hear everything, while in between I had to use a disposable and couldn't hear anything so at times I would borrow from a co-worker if it was a respiratory or cards kiddo.

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I thought of this thread cause I got a bad cold and went to the doctor, and she listened to my lungs through my sweater and said I was wheezing. I noticed hers was the Littman III. Is it really THAT good?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

Yes it is! Many times I have to try and listen to kids fully clothed when the first come in the door, if a co-worker has one see if you can borrow it and compare

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