Amplified stethoscopes

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I am getting ready for another stethoscope. Amplified stethoscopes: Good, bad or indifferent?

So how bad is it on your ears when knocked by accident?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I have the Littmann 3000 and bought it in 2006 when I first took the neph job where I'm assessing pts on dialysis. I love it. Only drawback is that when the battery goes, there goes your steth. I sidestep this by always having an extra battery in my pocket.

I like it very much.

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We shall see; ordered it yesterday.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
We shall see; ordered it yesterday.

Hi JDCitizen, if you don't mind me asking, where did you order your amplified stethoscope as I will be needing one for my FNP program and was it reasonable in price? Thanks. CMMG

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I really did my research on amplified scopes as a new NP, I have a really hard time with murmurs. I concluded that Thinklabs makes a quality product (based on user reviews). I'm about to buy one soon and will post back my experience.

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I apologize I haven’t been back until now. The stethoscope works great.

- Taking blood pressures with it is a little different.

- For me the volume adjuster is in the wrong place

- Carry a dime with you (that is what it takes to unscrew the thing to change batteries)

Purchased at: AllHeart.com 278.47 total

Price depends on perspective. With my hearing I needed an amplified scope so the price was worth it.

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Specializes in ER and family advanced nursing practice.

I have one (Littmann 3000) and I have mixed feelings about it. It comes down to technique when handling it. It is louder, but I don't feel that it is "cleaner/clearer" than my Littmann Cardiology III. I have old rock band/cop/artillery unit ears, so I do love the volume, I just wish the clarity was better. It supposedly uses external noise canceling technology, but I am not feeling that. I usually set mine at one notch above "neutral" which is 4 clicks I think. I still go back and forth between the 3000 and Card III

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Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.
I have one (Littmann 3000) and I have mixed feelings about it. It comes down to technique when handling it. It is louder, but I don't feel that it is "cleaner/clearer" than my Littmann Cardiology III. I have old rock band/cop/artillery unit ears, so I do love the volume, I just wish the clarity was better. It supposedly uses external noise canceling technology, but I am not feeling that. I usually set mine at one notch above "neutral" which is 4 clicks I think. I still go back and forth between the 3000 and Card III

ITA with this. I have the 3000 b/c I have consistent tinitus. I prefer my Cardiology III over it as it seems to amplify all the sounds and almost jumble them to me. Maybe I just don't have discerning enough ears though that comes with better practice :D I guess I'll hang on to it, but everytime I retry it out, it's the same results for me.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

It does take some technique. I'll be honest too that when I have peds pts, I listen with my Littmann peds scope.

I usually work in dialysis though and nothing beats the electronic steth for allowing me to hear ANYTHING when their permcaths are in use.

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