What Stethoscope for first semesters of Clinicals

Nursing Students General Students

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Do I need to get the top of the line for clinical? My sister who is a RRT, says that I really don't need to get one because there is always a stethoscope in the room you can use...but I am a little grossed out by using someone else's!

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Around here, everyone needs their own. My fruend graduated last year & told me not to waste$ on an expensive one till my first nursing job cuz someone may swipe it. Well, I'm getting a littmann cardiology III and getting my name engraved. Also the cardio III has been known for hearing absolutely everything u need to and perfectly & when you're learning, why settle for less?

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No you don't need a top of the line one. The littmann classic II s.e. is budget friendly and is a great stethoscope. Yes, hospitals have disposable steths available. The hospitals I did my clinical at had them for isolation rooms and everyone would use it. Gross! So I would say you need to get your own.

Good luck!

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Thanks, I'll look into those. Yeah, I feel bad for saying I get skeeved out by other peoples ears...but I do! I won't even use earbuds that have been in my kids ears! And I know they are clean! :)

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I'm not sure about your program, but mine is requiring a Littmann Classic II for all entering nursing students. I already have a Classic II, so my husband upgraded me to a Cardiology III for my birthday and had it engraved. Like you said, even though only I'm the only one using my steth, I still clean the ear pieces just to keep it looking nice and clean. Same with the chest piece- always clean after each patient!

At least if you buy a Littmann now, you'll have a good, quality steth for when you enter the field as a nurse. I got my CII in 2009 (I think?) and it's still in excellent condition. They say "Littmann quality" for a reason, if you ask me! :yes:

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The littmann classic II s.e. is budget friendly and is a great stethoscope.

Good luck!

This is the one I bought and I love mine. I got it engraved and I keep it on me. Plus if you have your own, you get to pick your colour ! And like someone else said ALWAYS clean it after each patient. That's just best practice, even if it's yours or not!

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Specializes in CMSRN.

Most of the students in my program didn't have Littmann's. They are great and I fully intend to get one as soon as I become gainfully employed as an RN (hopefully SOON!!) but they weren't necessary as students. Most of us had a $30 stethoscope/sphygmomanometer set (but in prettier colors - LOL). Our school even recommended not spending a lot of money as students and to not make that investment yet. Of course if you want to buy a Littmann now, it's not going to hurt anything. I think most of us were trying to save money and knew there was a chance things could walk off as students in a clinical environment. Good luck!

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

More than being grossed out, impolite to come to clinicals without tools you know you'll need (and you'll definitely need a stethoscope) because you expect to use other people's. Definitely get one. Unless she's talking about the disposable kind? I've never been at a hospital where they were in every room...only isolation rooms, which is only a fraction of the rooms.

I don't think you can go wrong at this point. I'd say my cohort is pretty split between cheaper and more expensive stethoscopes and no one has seemed to have any complaints or problems hearing.

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