Expensive stethoscope for student?

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I'm beginning nursing school and was given a Littman Master Cardiology stethoscope as a gift. I'm concerned I'll look very obnoxious carrying it around, especially since I'm just starting out. Is that a legitimate concern, or will no one care?

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You're lucky! No one will care, and if they do, it's because they are jealous! Make sure you put a name tag on it!

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

No one should care. And if they do, why would you? You've got better things to go in school than worry about someone looking up the price of your stethoscope. What you should worry about is someone walking away with it. Stethoscopes, especially nice ones, tend to grow legs when left laying around. Get it engraved, get a name tag that isn't easily removed, and keep it in your pocket or your hands the entire time you're in clinical. If you don't need it for a clinical, leave it in your car or lock it up.

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When ever I see a new RN come onto my unit with a big bell on their steth I automatically assume they have some sort of critical care experience, I'm not saying if that's a good or bad thing im just telling you my perception and honestly, most of time that's the case, any other time I see this it's because it was a gift for graduating nursing school.

If you are one to not notice other people's judgments, use that steth like crazy, and don't worry about anyone else's comments or thoughts. The worse your gonna get is someone might ask if you know how to use it haha!

if you often find yourself getting sucked into the vortex of other people's judgment and drama seems to follow you everywhere you go just get ready for your steth to be an issue for you.

Either way it's cute to see a nursing student with a huge bell hahaha!

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doesn't matter what no one thinks, i have a few classmates with it and know one really pays attention. People will be too busy performing duties and taking care of pt. to worry about your stethoscope

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Specializes in Case Management.

check with your school about this - we were required to have a dual head.

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doesn't matter what no one thinks, i have a few classmates with it and know one really pays attention. People will be too busy performing duties and taking care of pt. to worry about your stethoscope

I work on the floor and I notice every single one I see because many times the nurses with those steths have great ears and know stuff, that's just my experience.

On more than one occasion I have noticed a steth and got to talking with the RN and come to find out they are a CRNA that just past boards or an icu nurse that was floated over to my unit that will sit and talk ICU Rx or patho or CHF/ARDS/ type IV RTA Tx with me on an indepth level. These are like private tutoring lessons on the floor and your getting paid for it. All because I was tipped off by the steth!

Just saying don't assume people don't pay attention to stuff especially in the hospital. RNs are very observant and as a student you are being watched like a hawk. One of the goals during clinicals besides just passing the class is to impress the nursing staff because they are the ones that may refer you for a position at that hospital and they are going to be asked about your performance by the instructor and if you're a super solid nursing student they will let your clinical instructior be made aware of how wonderful you are. I'm speaking only from personal experience here and trying to pass along some good info to help you be a great nursing student.

Having a large bell steth could be very helpful or harmful in the impression you make on your preceptor and the whole floor staff for that matter. It does not by any means have to reflect your competency; however if you are so inclined it can be to your advantage if your a rock star student.

I'll tell you what though if you jump in right away and wipe some butts and change some beds and ambulate some pt.s That will have a far greater impact than any steth will have. That's the stuff that matters in all honesty, are you a team player? Are you willing to do the dirty work? Do you want to hone the craft of nursing? Those are the questions that matter!

Regards,

ND

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thats crazy so far i haven't had that experience yet. But like you stated being a team player and doing a great job is what gets you great recognition first. How is your nursing school experience going so far

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thats crazy so far i haven't had that experience yet. But like you stated being a team player and doing a great job is what gets you great recognition first. How is your nursing school experience going so far

It has truly become life changing! Super motivated to get into the ICU as a new grad. It is seriously so fun to be on the floor as a student Pretty much all I have been studying over the summer is ICU and trauma stuff but I'm ready to hit it hard in August!

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No one will care. You have a stethoscope that will last you a very long time. If anything I would be more worried about it finding a pair of legs and walking away from your possession lol.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

DO NOT let it out of your sight. Trust me on this one.

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No one in my experience cares whether it's a fancy shmancy electronic or a disposable that one uses.

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