Do I need a Pediatric Stethocope?

calivianya, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2014

I wouldn't plan on getting one unless you plan to work in peds later. It's just one rotation and stethoscopes can be pricey. However, if you are not averse to paying for a really good stethoscope that handles both adults and peds very well, get a Littman Cardiology III or some equivalent. They have two pressure sensitive diaphragms that do either bell or diaphragm depending on the pressure you hold it down with. One side is adult sized and one is peds sized. I am sure there are other brands of stethoscope that do the same thing.

Luckyyou, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2014

In our NICU, every patient has their own stethoscope in their room. We don't use our own, only the fellows carry their own around. On the floors, the nurses carry their own, but every isolation patient has a dedicated stethoscope.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2014

Personally, I wouldn't bother investing in a pediatric stethoscope unless you plan to work in peds after graduation. The hospital should have stethoscopes available for use when the need arises.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Apr 15, 2014

I bought a cheap $20 stethoscope at the beginning of school. It had both an adult and a Peds diaphragm or bell (you could mix them however you wanted) and it worked great. I still use it. You will have to guard yours as the tend to grow legs and walk which is why I bought a cheapy one. I wouldn't spend much unless you have money to blow..

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2014

I've been a pediatric nurse for almost 7 years and I don't have- nor have I ever had- a "pediatric" stethoscope. I find the quality of them to be lacking. You can hear a child's breath sounds, heart sounds and bowel sounds just find with a standard stethoscope.

artisticmind · Apr 15, 2014

Same as a previous poster, all of the newborn bassinets had a small head stethoscope for babies and isolation patients always have their own dedicated stethoscope. The only time I used my own regular stethoscope during my Peds/OB rotation was doing my mom assessments in OB.

hopeless romantic · Apr 15, 2014

Thanks everyone for your advice!

OldDude · Apr 21, 2014

I've been a pediatric nurse for almost 7 years and I don't have- nor have I ever had- a "pediatric" stethoscope. I find the quality of them to be lacking. You can hear a child's breath sounds, heart sounds and bowel sounds just find with a standard stethoscope.

Totally agree - The only thing I would add is, when you go to work, and use the stethosocope as a tool for your profession, go ahead and invest in a Littmann or some other higher end device. You'll appreciate how much better you can hear things.

jrt4 · Apr 25, 2014

I agree with many of the other posts. I am a pediatric nurse and I do not see much value in a pediatric stethoscope vs an adult. Its all about the quality of the stethoscope not the age range its meant for. Pediatric cardiologists may disagree but my focus as a nurse is not to identify specific heart sounds. Your job is to assess the S1 and S2...if there is a variation notify the physician.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Apr 25, 2014

In our PICU/PCICU we're supposed to use the supplied cheaper-than-borscht basic adult stethoscopes the hospital provides. I find that I can pick out murmurs quite well with them, but figuring out where in the cardiac cycle they're occurring isn't so easy. Over time you'll train your ear to recognize where the adventitious breath sounds are coming from - kids' breath sounds are referred all over the chest, so it's a matter of practicing and practising. But the cheapo ones do the job adequately even with the cardiac patients. Don't spend more money than you have to on a stethoscope. Save it for something more important, like good shoes!