I can't hear a thing!

if you dont have any hearing issues, the one you have should work...
1) make sure the chest piece (bell) is turned properly
2) make sure the earpieces are turned a little, to face forward.
3) try the different ear tips that came with the scope

Ditto.

One girl in my nursing class had her stethoscope in her ears backwards, she couldn't hear anything. She was really starting to get worried that she had some kind of weird hearing loss cause the instructor kept telling her she could hear it clearly. They even traded ear pieces (one of those 'Y' scopes). I was really funny to hear her tell the story afterwards....

Is it a Prestige? I can't hear a thing with my Prestige scope..

yes it is a common mistake to have the earpiece facing backward...

I'd personally get the Littmann Cardiology III. I got a great deal on mine. I almost got the Master Classic II as it is a great stethoscope, but it wasn't all that much more for the Cardiology III and it is SO SO SO much better. Now that I have it, I am SO glad I spent the extra money on it. All the nurses on my floor I'm a tech on have the Classic II and they are always asking to borrow my Cardiology because they like it so much better. The sound volume and clarity is superb.

Definitely get a cardiology scope. I love mine.