best stethoscope for starting LPN school?

blondebabe0625 · Oct 14, 2014

I have the littmann master cardiology

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Oct 14, 2014

I'm not going to LPN school but I'm a pre nursing student and I got the Prestige stethoscope/sphygmomanometer set off Amazon for like $40. It works really well for me.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2014

I recommend the Littman Lightweight SE. It comes in a variety of colors and can be purchased on Amazon for about $50+/-.

I also recommend the Maxiscope. It is made by the Ultrascope company, works really well for the price and costs about $50.

bonjoe07 · Oct 14, 2014

I have littman and prestige, in my opinion, prestige is better

RN403, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2014

I have a Littman Cardiology III. I feel that the more expensive stethoscope pays for itself in the long run. You get good assessments and it will last you a long time.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2014

I have a Littman Cardiology III. I feel that the more expensive stethoscope pays for itself in the long run. You get good assessments and it will last you a long time.

This is very true. However, the pricey stethoscopes tend to 'grow legs' and 'walk away' during our student years when we are surrounded by flat broke classmates who might not have the most active moral compasses in the world.

So when students are looking for suggestions on stethoscopes to purchase, I usually suggest reasonably priced ones that offer a good mix of quality and durability. The expensive stethoscope can always be purchased later on in their careers.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 14, 2014

I recommend a stethoscope that is between $30 and $70 for this purpose. Just about any stethoscope in that range is going to be decent enough for you to learn on, use through school, and will carry you through the beginning of your career with ease. That amount is also low enough so that you can lose a stethoscope and it won't hurt too badly that you can't replace it.

Personally, I went through nursing school with my Littmann Cardiology III, but I'd have gone with a Littmann Lightweight or any stethoscope with a similar quality if I hadn't already had my Cardiology III. I very much should point out that I've had that stethoscope for just about 13-14 years now, so it's not a new purchase by any stretch. I was a Paramedic back then and I could afford a high-end stethoscope.

My ears are pretty well trained for what I need to hear, so for the most part, I can get by quite easily with a $5 single head stethoscope, though in the back of an ambulance, that can get very challenging to say the least.

Just make sure that you use the stethoscope the right way, including putting the tips in your ear canals so that the sound travels to your ear drums and not into the wall of said canal...

shan409, ASN, BSN, LPN, RN · Oct 14, 2014

I have an Omron, and I like it. My clinical instructors have models that are inexpensive and we can hear well on their's as well. One of my instructor's loves her littman, but it was taken on the floor that she works at. So she buys inexpensive ones from here on out.

Jen_Loves_Nursing · Oct 18, 2014

I have a Littman Cardiology III. I feel that the more expensive stethoscope pays for itself in the long run. You get good assessments and it will last you a long time.

Agreed. your really going to get your moneys worth if you spend the extra cash. Whether is LVP program or RN program you are eventually going to being working and need an instrument you can relay on.

Wannabeeinscrubs, ADN, LPN, RN · Oct 18, 2014

Check out the ADC brand. I couldnt hear anything with the cheap MDF scope I had.

Brett SPN · Oct 23, 2014

Still in LPN school and using Littman classic 2 and an MDF ER premier. Both have been great.