what's a good stethoscope for nursing school?

I've got a Littman Master Cardiology stethoscope and it works great. It's a little on the expensive side, but it's worth it. If you can dish out the money I'd go for one of those electronic stethoscopes.

You could also try the GRx stethoscopes. http://grxmedical.com/stethoscopes.asp I've been using the Expert Cardiology Stethoscope (model CD27) for the past year. I can pick up murmurs and faint lung sounds just fine. Save yourself some big $$$ over the Littmann.

As for hemostats, pick 'em up on e-bay for cheap.

Is there that much of a noticeable difference in acoustics between the Littmann Cardiology III and the Classic SE II? I would like to purchase something for nursing school, but I do not want to buy something that is out of my league for the time being.

I have a Master Cardiology, Black edition, from Littmanns. It is great.. I can hear everything out of it!

I have a Classic II that works just fine. I think I'll ask for a better one for a graduation present in December.

I have an ADC Adscope 602 cardiology stethoscope. I got it from Galls magazine, and I absolutely love it. I have no issues with it whatsoever. There is one downside in that it likes to pick up the diesel engine of one of our ambulances, but frankly, I never use that ambulance when I run on calls. I can still hear fine with the noise, it just takes a little longer to hear.

I'd recommend it for sure.

I have a Littmann Classic II S.E. Stethoscope. I think it's perfect for nursing school b/c you can hear really well with it and its has the diaphragm and bell side. I originally had a Littmann Master Classic II which is an even better stethoscope, however, I do not recommend it for nursing school b/c my instructors told me I could not use it in peds and ob/gyn clinicals b/c it lacks a bell side.

There is a tremendous notice in quality between the cardiology scopes and the Littmann Classic II SE (or lesser) type scopes. On an infant, small peds pt, or thin/emaciated pt, the quality might not be that noticeable. It truly is noticeable on gastric bypass patients and any other pts of significant sizes. It is nice having a peds diaphragm, as is on the Littmann Cardiology III, but any scope can be used on peds or infant pts, with a little fanagling (sp?)

Some people feel that a cardiology scope is too much, but try one out, and determine for yourself. Go to a local uniform/stethoscope shop, or your schools bookstore, and test drive them. I think you will be truly surprised at the difference in quality between the many scopes out there. I have purchased several scopes and have noticed that I, personally, hear best out of cardiology scopes (I use a Littmann Cardiology III for nursing school), but the cheaper Littmanns work well for me as well (use an ADC 603 at the hospital as a nursing assistant-littmann classic II SE cheaper version with same quality). Try them out and then you'll know.

You may do well with a cheap $5 scope, or may only be able to use the cardiology scopes.

I've had all different makes of stethoscopes and I swear by Littman.

I had a girl in class who could never hear a correct BP, apical pulse or lung and bowel sounds, I handed her my Littman. You should have seen her eyes widen! She was finally able to hear what she should have been hearing for a while. She had been using a "cheapy" steth. I guess you get what you pay for.

When I graduate I am asking for an upgrade on my Littman. Not exactly sure which one I want yet. It depends on where my career takes me.