Clinicals and stethoscope?

A&Ox6, MSN, RN · Jan 4, 2015

I think that unless money is no issue at all or your school requires the Littman, a generic one should be okay. As a nursing student, it is not necessarily worthwhile to buy an expensive one. If yo end up entering specialty practice immediately afterwards, you may anyway need a different stethoscope.

Let it be your gradation present, and spend the money on good shoes.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 4, 2015

I used a Littman II stethoscope during my clinicals; however, I had it for years as a LPN and a Tech.

If cost is an issue, just make sure you get a light-weight stethoscope with short tubing; the more tubing, the more challenging in hearing sounds; otherwise get the Littman...only because of the clarity of sounds that is needed when you start learning.

Beck1956 · Jan 4, 2015

I usually recommend that my students purchase a decent stethescope, but that doesn't necssarily mean expensive, or a Littman. People new to nursing often have dificulty hearing with a double lumen stethescope (the tubing rubbing), so i recommend a single lumen. My personal preference. I have owned many stethescopes, many of them high priced (even amplifying, Littmans). What I use now is an Adscope Ninja, usually retails for $40-45 on Amazon. I hear just as well as I did with Littmans that cost more than twice as much. I ask my students to not purchase the cheap ones offered at the bookstore and at uniform shops. They need to be able to learn heart and lung sounds and the cheap ones can make this difficult.

Beck

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 4, 2015

I generally recommend buying a stethoscope in about the $30-$75 range. The low end filters out the lesser quality stethoscopes and the cap on the high end keeps things from getting nuts and remaining generally affordable. Right in the middle of that range is where some very good stethoscopes can be found from several different manufacturers. The Littmann Classic II SE is one of those that is usually affordable (but in the high range) and it's good enough to see the student from learning the basics to well into professional practice.

If you can't afford that, but you can afford a comparable stethoscope to that one, get it. Once you're into your professional practice, you'll find out if you need something a whole lot better.

mrsboots87 · Jan 5, 2015

I have the S.E. II. I paid about $75 with engraving of my name. It has worked out great for me. There are a couple people in my class who have the cardiology III and even though the sounds are a little sharper and you can hear murmurs and fine crackles and such a bit better, you can still hear them with the S.E. II as long as you focus. So while a pricey stethoscope is nice, it is not necessary. One of my friends has a basic $25 stethoscope and seems to be doing just fine with it. In block 1 her blood pressures were within the error limit and she could hear lung and heart abnormalities with it. She said the earpieces just aren't comfortable at all. Maybe go to a scrub store that carries a few brands of stethoscope and try them out on yourself to see how they fit you and how well you can hear. One of the students in my class has some hearing trouble from being in the military and has a lot of trouble hearing the sounds with the cheaper stethoscopes so he has a very expensive high end one. Most people can get by fine with the cheaper ones, but only you know if you can.

GodIs082010, ASN, RN · Jan 5, 2015

Thanks for your suggestionsðŸ˜Š

MurseJJ · Jan 5, 2015

I use a classic II SE littmann stethoscope. This stethoscope, if you have the money (not too expensive compared to other littmanns like the cardiology III), as mentioned, will be great for nursing school and when you're an RN. You should shop around and find the best deal. I went to different websites looking for the same stethoscope, and finally found one that included the stethoscope plus engraving for less money than other websites offering just the stethoscope without engraving.

You should also practice using the cheap stethoscopes that you'll find in your school labs and in the clinical setting. When you demonstrate auscultating blood pressure, you may have to use a dual-stethoscope, which basically is two connected together so that the instructor can listen at the same time. You won't be able to use your own higher quality stethoscope, so you should also practice with it so you get used to listening with both. Also, in the clinical setting, you will encounter patients that are on some sort of contact precautions, preventing you from using your person scope. You'll have to use one of the cheap ones that the hospital has in the room. I just had to do that a few days ago at work (I work as a PCA part time), where the patient not only was on multi-drug resistant contact precautions, but had a condition where we couldn't use the automatic BP machine, and had to manually take BP. Got lots of practice auscultating and listening with the cheap scope that day!

zzbxdo · Jan 5, 2015

I use the cheap disposable ones at work and it's fine for me.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jan 5, 2015

I have the cardiology III. I love it and hear very well with it. As a matter of fact, several of my classmates in my clinical group use it because they got cheap ones and they can't hear with theirs. You need to think about you are learning what these sounds are. So you need to be able to hear well to understand what you are hearing. I pick up a lot my classmates don't. Once your an expert on knowing what it is you are hearing a cheaper one will do. But I think for learning you need a good one.

elkpark · Jan 5, 2015

I'm shocked at all the students who post here about buying expensive stethoscopes. When I started nursing school, the school advised us specifically to buy the cheapest stethoscope we could find, nothing else was necessary for us as students. I did fine all through school with the cheap 'scope (as did all my classmates). I got myself a nicer one as a graduation present for myself. IMO, there are more than enough necessary expenses associated with nursing school without going out and looking for things to spend more money on.

PedsRN2016 · Jan 5, 2015

I start clincals this semester. It is recommended that students purchase a Littman classic II. I was wondering what other students are using/used during clinicals??
Thankd

I have used the Littman Classic SE II throughout nursing school and it has worked well for me. In the beginning, I hoped to just use the cheap one the school handed out and buy a nice one for graduation. As I was getting ready for my first skills check off, I freaked out a bit when I could not hear the blood pressure sounds and went out and bought my Littman which allowed me to hear perfectly! I am pretty sure my ears are fine; I think I agree with the poster above who mentioned things rubbing on the double lumen tubing! Best of luck with your decision and with the start of nursing school!