Best Stethoscope - Lung Sounds

[JaredCNA, CNA]

Hello all,

Short and sweet, and hopefully this doesn't turn into an RT vs. RN flame war, I'm beginning school for resp. therapy this fall. Like a dummy, my last stethoscope became ruined because I left it hanging from the car mirror and the tubing cracked d/t heat.

I need a new steth and I'm willing to dish out the money to get a nice one...my last one was a Littman Lightweight II S.E. Does anyone else have any recommendations, seeing as you pulmonary nurses pay a lot of attention to lung sounds?

I'm looking at the MaxiScope but I can't tell this difference between it and the regular UltraScope (besides it costing $60 less.) Am I to understand that it is the same stethoscope, just without the designs?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Moving to the nursing stethoscope forum where I am sure you will find better reviews on the different sorts available. Will also see many nurses pay attention to lung sounds

[JaredCNA, CNA]

Anyone?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Although I didn't listen to lungs much in my last job I did go on what the doctor's preferred and used a Littmann's cardiology and found the sounds much better than my cheap one

[JaredCNA, CNA]

Thanks. I was looking at the Littmann Cardio III vs Master Cardiology mainly d/t price and because as a student RT I'm sure I won't need a master cardiology.

By the way, does anyone know of a cheaper alternative cardiology scope that works just as good as the Littmann? I was looking at the DRG stethoscopes because the acoustics are made by Bose and their basic model is like $69 if I remember correctly.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Some of the DRG models are actually more expensive than the comparable Littmann. You can get a DRG stethoscope for around $69, but the cardiology models that I've seen tend to run much higher than that.

Have you looked at ADC?

[JaredCNA, CNA]

Some of the DRG models are actually more expensive than the comparable Littmann. You can get a DRG stethoscope for around $69, but the cardiology models that I've seen tend to run much higher than that.

Have you looked at ADC?

I'm highly considering this stethoscope from ADC. It's the double-sided cardiology stethoscope.

It actually seems like the specifications listed are better than the Littmann Cardio III. Are you familiar with this scope?

[Jaguar Boy]

Hello,

Try cruising through the steth discussions in this forum. I don't have any experience actually using a steth in a clinical setting, but I decided to purchase a GRX medical CD27 steth. Its design is based on the Littman Cardiology III, but with their ebay special it's about a quarter of the price. I paid about $35. Several people have written positive reviews. Other brands with good reviews are kila and nursemates. Someone even wrote about how to "make your own Littman" using a Kila body and replacing the head with a Littman replacement head (much, much cheaper than buying the whole thing).

Try searching through this forum...and good luck.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I haven't used an ADC stethoscope myself. (I primarily work NICU and the infant Littmann is cheap enough).

[mcknis]

Jared, i have used the ADC stethoscopes before, and I can truly say that they are of good quality. I have the 603 (siimilar to the Classic II SE) and it is great for assessments. I have found that the pulmonary assessment is superb even with this scope. One of the girls at work uses the 600 which she says is fantastic. I don't think you can go wrong with ADC. The only downside I have noticed is that the tubing stiffens up fairly quick. I used it for about two years and the tubing was rock solid but still able to drape around my neck. I would suggest keeping it out of the sun :) since that's what caused the problem last time. They are great scopes at a reduced price from Littman, but still just as good. I also use a Littman Select which is still of great quality at half the price of the cardiology models.