RN student seeking opinion from pros about stethoscopes

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Specializes in MICU/SICU.

Hi everyone, this question goes out to working RNs.....I am a nursing student, and my supportive husband (himself a doctor) has given me a wonderful, very expensive electronic cardiologists stethoscope - mainly because I have a hard time hearing through the regular ones, and this amplifies beautifully. Is this overkill, or should I just count my lucky stars for the generosity?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

Moved thread to General Nursing Discussion forum.

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Specializes in Psych, M/S, Ortho, Float..

I would say thank you very much, very nicely.

A cheap stethoscope will work if your hearing is perfect and there is no noise in the room. A great one like yours will be a good for a long time. Just make sure that you keep it with you at all times. If someone borrows it, take their name tag so that if it doesn't come back you know where to go looking. I have a really good one too, and if I don't have it on me, I will go looking for it. They do tend to grow legs and walk away on a busy unit.

Make sure you have your name on it, and stick an unusual tag or neck cover on it, so that you can spot it quickly.

Have fun.

P.S. I was a great one for trying to listen to my and my husband's breath and bowel sounds while we were in bed. Absolutely hilarious. Who says learning can't be fun!!

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.
Hi everyone, this question goes out to working RNs.....I am a nursing student, and my supportive husband (himself a doctor) has given me a wonderful, very expensive electronic cardiologists stethoscope - mainly because I have a hard time hearing through the regular ones, and this amplifies beautifully. Is this overkill, or should I just count my lucky stars for the generosity?

Thanks!

Say "Thank you SO much, Honey!", and mean it!

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wow thats a realy nice gift id say thank you and take him out somewhere to show him how happy you are.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Yep great gift. You can always upgrade later if you choose.

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Hi everyone, this question goes out to working RNs.....I am a nursing student, and my supportive husband (himself a doctor) has given me a wonderful, very expensive electronic cardiologists stethoscope - mainly because I have a hard time hearing through the regular ones, and this amplifies beautifully. Is this overkill, or should I just count my lucky stars for the generosity?

Thanks!

Absolutely...what a wonderful gift! You have a very thoughtful husband, and the electronic stethoscope will help tremendously if you have difficulty hearing...lucky you!

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Follow up question.

I agree this was a nice gift, but if a student starts out with something this sensitive can it create problems later on when a situation forces you to use a cheapie?

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.
I would say thank you very much, very nicely.

A cheap stethoscope will work if your hearing is perfect and there is no noise in the room. A great one like yours will be a good for a long time. Just make sure that you keep it with you at all times. If someone borrows it, take their name tag so that if it doesn't come back you know where to go looking. I have a really good one too, and if I don't have it on me, I will go looking for it. They do tend to grow legs and walk away on a busy unit.

Make sure you have your name on it, and stick an unusual tag or neck cover on it, so that you can spot it quickly.

Have fun.

P.S. I was a great one for trying to listen to my and my husband's breath and bowel sounds while we were in bed. Absolutely hilarious. Who says learning can't be fun!!

:yeahthat:

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No. I think cheapy stethoscopes are just plain cheap. If you use them all the time, you most likely aren't hearing as much as you should. So, using them more frequently will not make the cheap stethoscope work any better, nor will it improve your ability to hear anything with them,because it is a cheap stethscope. It isn't really a skill.

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I'd like to thank your husband, too... for apparently having a high opinion of nurses! A good stethoscope has often clued me into problems that doctors weren't previously aware of, and he seems grateful for that!

I think learning on a good scope will help in the long run. I started out with a cheapie and traded up as fast as possible (what a few more mac and cheese only meals in college?) Once I learned what I was listening for I found it easier to do an assessment even if I have to borrow a cheaper scope in a pinch... yes, I have to focus more, but I can do it.

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