Lightweight or Classic II?

Nurses Uniform/Gear

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I'm a nursing student starting in the fall. Which Littmann stethoscope do you recommend of the Lightweight or Classic II?

Thanks!!

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No experience with the lightweight. I have the classic II and highly recommend it for general nursing assessments. Whatever scope you get, keep it around your neck/in your pocket when not in use. They get easily lost/borrowed. Some doctors are notorious for borrowing whatever scope they find and not returning. Some nurses I know buy their expensive littmans in really girly/neon colors in the hope the docs won't walk off with them. Not a sure-fire guarantee!

Keep it around your neck/in your pocket when not in use! Try a search on this topic for more opinions on what to buy.

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

I've tried both and bought the classic II. I thought the lightweight was awful compared to the Classic. The difference is night and day. If you plan on keeping the stethoscope after nursing school I'd get the classic.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Classic.

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Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

The lightweight is a plastic POS.

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I like my Classic II but I love my Cardiology III. I have the rainbow scopes in both, but I hate the black tubing on the Cardiology III. I wish they had the same tubing color as the Classic II.

The best time to buy is Black Friday or Nurses Week. Black Friday has the best deals in my experience but I didn't follwo the Nurses Week this year.

Make sure you get your stethoscope head engraved. It's cheap to buy replacement tubing online if you get that engraved so don't bother relying on name tags or engraved tubing to protect your stethoscope.

Keep it in your pockets. The scrubs with cargo pockets are great for keeping stethoscopes in if you don't have big enough hip pockets on your top.

If you lend it to anyone, follow them. Doctor, nurse, student, whoever. I only lend mine out to coworkers I trust and classmates that I trust.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Get the Classic. I used the Lightweight two years throughout nursing school and 1 year after then upgraded to the all black Classic. It is so much better! And I can actually take a blood pressure accurately with it!

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I prefer the classic. I would second the previous poster by saying to get it engraved. You would swear that stethoscopes have feet the way they will disappear in the hospital. Between doctors, residents or fellow nurses, someone is always asking to borrow! Also, if you are not afraid of standing out, I would get a fun unique color too! I bought the basic black one during nursing school and regret it to this day!

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