A few quick questions from a nervous newbie!

MInurse.st · Aug 17, 2010

Congrats on starting NS, I start Monday also!

I did buy the Classic II, and while can't imagine there would be a big difference between that and the lightweight, I don't have a lot of experience w/ stethoscopes, so not sure. But, I can tell you that I bought 2 sets of scrubs. I have 1 clinical/wk for the first 11 weeks, then 2/wk for the last 5 weeks. I figured it would be good to have 1 set and 1 back up. I bought Grey's Anatomy, so I really didn't want to spend money on more than 1 set. I guess it would depend on how many days/week you have clinicals. As for NCLEX review, I've heard that Saunders is good.

We have to have patches also.. how much is "fairly expensive?" Ours are $5/each.

Good luck with NS!!! :)

Kaychell · Aug 17, 2010

That should say "Fairly Inexpensive". Sorry about that!

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Aug 17, 2010

My program required the Littman Classic II...which they provided in the college bookstore. So I don't have experience with any others. I only have clinical once/week so I only bought 1 uniform set....even if I had more days I would still only buy 1 set, they're expensive. I bought the Saunders NCLEX review book and I LOVE it! Good luck!

sh1901 · Aug 17, 2010

I have the littman classic for my stethoscope, but other people in my class have others & they seem to be fine. Over time, you will find out what works best for you and may choose a different stethoscope and may not...if you think that you can hear things ok with what you have, you should be fine. Test it on someone, put it up to their chest, how well can you hear their heart beat? Put it up to their back, ask them to take a couple deep breaths - can you hear the air moving in and out of their lungs clearly? finally, put it up against their lower abdomen - can you hear movement in the intestines? If you can - you're all set. Try not to stress about it too much.

I have the Saunders review & it's excellent. This is my last semester and the book has been helpful in more ways than just NCLEX review. Sometimes, they explain things in that book better than what I am getting in class.

As for scrubs...I have 2 sets. My reason is this - when you are working on the floor (clinical or for the future on the job) - you never know when you might get something on you that you may not want to "wear" all day. Think urine, vomit, feces, sputum, etc...would you want to wear that all day because you have only 1 set of scrubs. This has come in handy more than once.

Best of luck for your upcoming semester!!!

allnurses Guide · Aug 17, 2010

Lots of the students in my program have the Littman Lightweight and have been quite happy with it. I think you are fine there.

I have two pair of scrubs and have had no problems with needing more.

Saunders is a good NCLEX review book. No idea on the pocket pharm book but I like the Mosby's Drug Guide for Nurses for a regular size one.

anonymousstudent · Aug 17, 2010

Hey guys!!! I'm starting my first year of NS on Monday! I'm doing an ADN program through Northern Oklahoma College. Monday (8/23) marks our first day of class and I'm SUPER nervous!!! I have a few quick questions:
I have a Littman Lightweight stethoscope. I've looked through a few posts and saw recommendations for the Classic II instead. Should I exchange my Lightweight for a Classic II?
How many sets of scrubs for clinicals do you recommend? We have to have patches attached to our scrubs, however the patches are fairly inexpensive. I'm just not sure if I need one set or more.
Can anyone recommend an NCLEX review book and a pocket sized drug book?

If you can hear with your steth don't change. Different steths for different people. If not try other people's and find one you like.

I have 2 sets incase I get...covered. lol I keep it in my car and if I need it I use it. (so far so good! :) )

I use Davis's drug guide and really like it. The clinical site will have a drug guide there (unless they're lame...) so you might just want to keep your note cards with prototypes and all of that info in your pocket. It will also help you to make them. :)

Good luck!

sarahsmile44 · Aug 17, 2010

Hi! My nurse friends recommended the Littman II ES that has the bell side and the diaphragm side. I'm sure yours will work great though!

I am going to buy 2 uniforms just in case...

I like the Davis' Drug Guide for Nurses (the red one) and our school recommends the big blue Saunders NCLEX review book, which seems to be the one my friends used as well.

Good luck! I'm nervous too! Two more weeks of freedom and then the ride begins!

Music in My Heart · Aug 17, 2010

Any decent Littman should be fine.

Definitely keep a spare set of scrubs in your car, just in case. BTW, patches can be attached satisfactorily and temporarily with carpet tape.

Drug guide: I also like Davis... Personally, I'd suggest a PDA/smartphone so that you can search drugs quickly rather than digging through the book.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Aug 17, 2010

Congrats on starting nursing school! :yeah:

As for the stethoscope, I would really exchange the Lightweight for the Classic II if possible. I know there are a lot of users here who say the Lightweight is fine, but I honestly think the Classic II is a lot better. The nurses that I work with that have a Lightweight all agree that it sucks and they wish they bought something better.

As for uniforms, how many days/week will you be at clinical? Mine are only once/week, but for one of my summer rotations I was in clinical 3x/week and I will be precepting this fall so I can expect to do 2-3 12's/week. I would buy at least 2 or 3 sets of scrubs - which will also help if you can't find time to do any laundry!!

NCLEX book: I highly recommend both Saunders and Reviews & Rationales (Pearson Prentice Hall). I don't have a pocket drug guide - I just bring my drug book and keep it in my clinical bag and go back to reference if needed.

cjungen · Aug 17, 2010

I compared the Littman classic II and the Littman light and could not tell any difference other than $40.00. We have to wear scrubs to class as well as clinicals so I got 3 tops and 2 bottoms.