Geez! Just spent over 1100.00

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Specializes in Emergency, Outpatient.

:angryfire: Did everyone else have to buy all this equipment for class? I just spent over 1100.00 on a Littman stethoscope (Cardiology III), otoscope and accessories (650.00), tuning forks, b/p cuff child and adult (140.00), tape measure, pen light, ect. for physical assessment class (have to have the right brand). This is ridiculous, clinics have this stuff and why am I paying such a high tuition if I have to provide all the tools :madface: The 1100.00 is not including all the books either!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

You will want to have your own oto/opth set, a good steth really does make a difference (mine is over 15 years old and still works great) Some clinics don't have equipment - and some don't have equipment that is in good working order. You will be surprised at what you may find out there.

If you ever volunteer or spend time in some of the homeless shelters or other places, you will absolutely need your own stuff.

I know - I asked the same questions - and in fact I was lucky enough to do all my clinicals in sites that had everything even though I had purchased it. (except the steth - I always needed my own) But I have used that otoscope and opthalmascope an awful lot practice on my family and friends, and a few times to look at ears when relatives asked me to, I was glad to be able to practice at home with it!

Get ready to spend a bundle more - books, review courses, certification and licensure as an NP are not cheap either!

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Specializes in Emergency, Outpatient.
;) Thanks, I guess I am just bummed because this is a post master's for me. My MSN degree was very expensive and I am unable to fully utilize it. I took the nurse educator track and I am appalled at the salary, roughly 30k per year less than my current salary. My excuse is that I am a little touchy about money :trout: I have a Lithman Cardiology II and have found it to be perfect for working with critical cardiac patients. I have bonded to it :) I am very aware of the cost of higher education but I really think this is excessive. Do you carry tuning forks of different frequencies with you? I pray they don't want me to buy a cardiac monitor to carry with me :D: I could probably get one cheaper than the oto/opthalm scope.
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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

I like my Cardiology II too - they didnt tell us we had to buy a new steth or a specific type - just to make sure we had a good one.

Now the tuning forks - the school had those and we checked them out for the semester. We didn't have to buy BP cuffs either - but I already have my own anyway since I worked home health for a few years. The school let us use their dx kits for the assessment course - we just had to buy our own when we started the actual clinical courses. But we didnt have to buy tuning forks! I can think of just a few instances where I have used one to assess a patient during my clinical rotations - maybe when I get out in practice I will find more occasions to use it.

Anybody else?

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Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.

Went I went to NP school 2 years ago, I had to by all of the stuff as well. I already had a Litman Cardiology stethescope so I did not have to get that. I did use everything in my clinicals (most places everyone had to own their own otoscope) but I guess it just depends where you are. However, keep your receipts b/c all of that is tax deductable!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

I've been out of school for a good while and wasn't required to purchase these items. I understand why you need to, however.

It does get expensive. My biggest expense was on a cardiology stethoscope and the oto/opht scopes. The clinics where I've been associated had items as you listed above, but were in need of repair and/or not enough to accomodate all HCPs.

Just an FYI.......many drug reps actually give some of these items to the HCP. I've acquired the tuning forks this way as well as other items including P-ox, doppler, glucometers, diabetic filaments...;)

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Specializes in Emergency, Outpatient.

I have the cardiology II I had to buy the III. I had to buy a pediatric b/p cuff and an adult b/p cuff. I also had to buy a Welch Allen otoscope/opthamascopy. The most expensive available. :uhoh3: There are cheaper alternatives waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper and another rant why do I need different frequencies of tuning forks...................

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What type of oto/optho set do you all recommend? S/t decently priced and good...

Also, between the Littman Cariodlogy II and III, where does the vote go?

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I too am interested in which stethoscope is comfortable on the head and ears...many I have tried seem like a giant pair of tongs pinching your head severely. Distracting when you're trying to listen but can't focus due to pain.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

The steths relax after a bit - I highly recommend the softer ear tips! I bought a cardio III and love it, have used a II for years and loved that too. I also like my pedi steth for kidlets. Lots of personal preference - take a friend and go try them out somewhere if you can.

As for dx kits - I ordered mine off of allheart - just the basic welch-allyn - nothing fancy - and paid about 600 for it as I recall. You could probably find one on ebay too....

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Specializes in ICU.

Thanks for the heads up on buying equipment for clinicals! Although I'm sorry you had to dish out so much money. I'm paying back tons of student loans right now and feel your pain.

Guess I know what will be on my Christmas list this year based on your list. ;)

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Specializes in Emergency, Outpatient.
;) You got that right "donations" thanks for listening to me whine now pass the cheese :)
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