Starting Clinicals in August need help with buying supplies

LauraLou · Mar 22, 2005

Littman are great stethoscopes. Don' buy anything too expensive, as they have a tendency to disappear. You can buy a blood pressure cuff off Allheart.com. Again, don't buy anything very expensive. The Nursing Made Incredibly Easy books are really good. You could purchase their Nursing Procedures or Assessment book if you are anxious to get started. Once you get your steth and cuff, you can always practice taking vital signs (pulse, bp, respirations) on your family members. Good luck!

elizabells, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2005

Littman are great stethoscopes. Don' buy anything too expensive, as they have a tendency to disappear. You can buy a blood pressure cuff off Allheart.com. Again, don't buy anything very expensive. The Nursing Made Incredibly Easy books are really good. You could purchase their Nursing Procedures or Assessment book if you are anxious to get started. Once you get your steth and cuff, you can always practice taking vital signs (pulse, bp, respirations) on your family members. Good luck!

Littman steths are really good - if you're planning to go into peds or NICU I was told to get a cheapo because you'll want a specific one once you graduate. And I don't know this personally, but from what I've read on this site don't order anything from Allheart unless you're prepared to spend the next three months on the phone fighting with them to actually get it.

Oh, and Littmans come with a little nametag you can attach, I believe. Mine did.

manna, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2005

I have a Littmann Classic II S.E. that I purchased for about $60 on ebay. Decent steth, works great for what I need it for. I think if I could go back, I'd go ahead and splurge on the cardio model just because I figure I'll want to upgrade eventually. I'm actually looking into getting an ultrascope now, though.

My philosophy on steths "walking away" is - don't leave your steth somewhere where it will have the opportunity to "disappear," then you won't have to worry about that problem. :)

The advice I have for all the folks who'll be starting in the fall is - relax and enjoy your summer!

Good luck! :)

RN2B07 · Mar 23, 2005

Hi I bought a cheap littman for starting clinicals and regret it now b/c lung sounds are extremely hard to hear....I am now investing in a good cardio steth.

LilRedRN1973 · Mar 23, 2005

I bought a cheapo steth for the first semester as well.....regretted it too! For the Christmas after my first semester, my hubbie bought me a Littmann Classic SE II with my name engraved on it for around $70 from Allheart. I will be upgrading after starting my new position in the ICU (WOOHOO) after graduation this May, but for now, it's a good steth. I borrow my preceptor's from time to time and it's a bit easier to hear the little nuances in lung sounds as well as pick up on really slight murmurs. But the one I want to upgrade to is around $150 so it will have to wait.

Melanie =)

NewEnglandRN, RN · Mar 23, 2005

I agree with Melanie about getting you name engraved on the stethoscope tubing. I ordered a Littman Master Classic II from allheart.com and I am so glad I spent the extra few dollars getting it engraved.

Make sure you get comfortable shoes! I love my Danskos!

hypnotic_nurse · Mar 23, 2005

If you need a REALLY cheap stethoscope, I always had good sound quality with my Sprague ($15 in 1999). Later I upgraded (when I could afford it) because it was so dang heavy. But my $60 Littman sounds about the same to me as my Sprague did.

Tweege · Mar 23, 2005

I have a Littmann Classic II S.E. that I purchased for about $60 on ebay. Decent steth, works great for what I need it for. I think if I could go back, I'd go ahead and splurge on the cardio model just because I figure I'll want to upgrade eventually. I'm actually looking into getting an ultrascope now, though.
My philosophy on steths "walking away" is - don't leave your steth somewhere where it will have the opportunity to "disappear," then you won't have to worry about that problem. :)
The advice I have for all the folks who'll be starting in the fall is - relax and enjoy your summer!
Good luck! :)

Manna, Just wanted to let you know I like your style, as well as your name! "Bread of Life", so coool. Anyway, I really appreciate your layed back way of looking at things, great no nonsense advice. Keep it up it helps me. Thanks SuzanK

xokelly2 · Mar 23, 2005

All I wish I had done when buying a stethoscope, was not buy one so bulky or heavy, I have a lot of classmates who have thinner/lighter ones that I ask to borrow all the time. I also prefer the 'squishy' ear pieces vs. the harder plastic ones. When it fits in your ear properly the sound quality is much better. Most of them come with attachment packages that have the ear pieces, mine didn't. Its funny, in a really nice childrens hospital I had clinicals at, they use disposable steths in isolation. They looked like it they would be worthless but I ended up hearing the best lung sounds ever!!!!!

Just as a side note.....

For clinicals I also wish I would have brought a clipboard with the clip case underneath it, I got one now in my final semester and its great it holds all the neccesities like tape, lock flushes, mini stapler, alcohol swabs, pens/marker, etc....

Fraggle · Mar 23, 2005

I have a Littman Lightweight. It was from Allheart and I'm one of the few who didn't have trouble with them. :chuckle It was $30, I think. I keep it around my neck at all times, so losing it isn't a problem. Also the name tag. I also have a cheap sprague rappaport ($12) for peds and infants. It has smaller heads that you can attach. It's really heavy, though.

I have Fluids and Electrolytes made incredibly easy. Buy lightweight shoes and good socks. I bought a set with my clamps, tweezers, scissors, etc. Buy extra pen lights. A pack of black pens. Nude colored underwear if you have to wear white uniforms. :coollook: