Stethoscopes

HappyJaxRN · Jan 23, 2006

I would get a reliable one. You need to be able to hear clearly (high and low ends in the lungs, heart, and abd). With the cheaper ones, it's harder to hear and you can hear more background noise with them. A single tubing is better as well. Littman's are awesome. You might be able to find some good deals on eBay. There might be other brands that don't cost as much that will be fine. I'm not sure. I didn't take the chance. Went ahead and asked for (as a gift) the higher priced Master Cardiology III by Littman. I got it as a birthday gift from my parents....

SE_OKIE_RN · Jan 24, 2006

I work med/surg/telemetry-cardiac stepdown. I have a Littman as well, don't remember the model, but it is single bell, single tube and was about $125 and I think worth the price for the same reasons Jax stated

papawjohn · Jan 26, 2006

Hey Moon!!!

I'll sort of take a contrary view. There is a cheap (

It's a bad steth if you have to walk up and down a long hall--too heavy. You have to learn over close to the Pt to use it--too short.

But it's a perfect steth if you have two pts close to each other and you really want to listen for that 'split S2' or 'fine rales'.

Cause the things that make a steth convient--make it less acoustically desirable. An easy steth to use is light weigh and has long, single tubing and it's flexible to hang around your neck or coil up and carry in your pocket.

And one consideration--all nurses sooner or later lose their steth. So an expensive one is a much bigger lose.

I have to admit that when my Mrs went into LPN school and realized I had the 'cheap' steth--she bought me a Littman Cardiology as a present. And it's pretty good. Which is lucky for me, cause I don't dare NOT use it.

Papaw John

JiffyGriff · Jan 27, 2006

I just bought a Littman Master Cardiology, I had to splurge and get the black edition of course just cuz it's sweet..... Anyways, I love it and everyone at work that just has to listen through it says they love it as well. The tunable diaphragm is nice because you don't have to have the bell on the other end of it making it heavier. However I see a lot of nurses in our ICU using the Littman Cardiology III which is basically the same steth only it has the physical bell on the other side that you rotate the chest peice for. I also hear that DRG has really nice stethescopes. Mine was $250.00 at the local store but I picked it up online for $161.00 from HM International....... www.hmint.com

openheartmom3 · Feb 6, 2006

There is no question that the Littmans are the best...but remember the stethoscopes are only as good as the user. Take any chance you can to learn heart sounds and the abnormalities.... Oh and NEVER NEVER EVER leave your littman lying around.... as they tend to grow legs and walk away very quickly!

PHOEBE RN · Feb 7, 2006

The DRG Stethoscope is excellent. Bose helped manufacture it. Less expensive than Littman but has great acoustics!

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2006

Littman Cardiology II for me, I bought a DRG love the acoustics but found it too cumbersome to carry on my neck all the time. I gave it to my daughter who works hospice in home so no one to snatch the scope from her if she sets it down.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Feb 12, 2006

My favorite is the $100.00 Littman I got for free from a drug rep!:chuckle

Summitk2 · Feb 16, 2006

Though not theft-proof, I suggest getting your name professionally printed on the tubing or engraved on the head. Name tags can be pulled or cut off easily.

Has anyone tried the ultrascopes? I've heard they're great but haven't tried/seen one yet. Plus they look really cool.

Kudra · Feb 17, 2006

i use an Ultrascope... i really like it because i've found it louder than most stethoscopes i've used... i also find it easier to pick up on adventitious sounds using it... no one else in my unit has one, so i've not had a problem with it walking off...

JiffyGriff · Feb 17, 2006

I heard that the ultrascopes were really nice, however the only one I've seen of someone's at work had the tubing all dried out and it was permanently shaped into a "U" and the peice for the earpeices was broken so it didn't fit tight in the ears..............what a way to treat your scope!? :eek: