Help! NEED STETHOSCOPE ASAP!

Columnist · Jan 7, 2012

Hello and welcome to the site. For better response, I moved your thread to the Nursing Scrubs/Uniforms/Gear forum.

Good luck finding what you need.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 8, 2012

Most medical supply stores have them. There is a uniform outlet store where I get my scrubs and they carry them; both the less expensive ones (15-20 dollars) which I am using now and some Littman's (but not the really expensive ones). I refuse to buy a nice one until I actually pass the NCLEX. That will be my present to myself

Annachu512, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2012

I'm starting clinicals too and I got myself the less expensive Littmann Select II. On the Medisave website, they will engrave for free..a must with some of the stealing that sometimes occurs. Good luck!

MikeJones · Jan 14, 2012

u cannot go wrong with a littman. Just don't get the cheapest one. But obviously, not the most expensive b/c you are a broke student.

Truth is, you don't need a fancy one, you're not going to make life changing decisions with it, lol. Or will you...hmmm.

libby11 · Jan 14, 2012

I've been reading quite a bit about stethoscopes. It seems that a good majority of RNs will recommend the Littmann Classic II for nursing students. Would anyone reccommend the Littmann Lightweight? (It's about $20 cheaper).

I hate to look for the cheapest thing out there, but as you all know, getting started as a nurse is expensive! Tuition, lab fees, scrubs, shoes, textbooks, study guides, drug guides, labs reference guides, care plan guides, watch, stethoscope, coffee, louder alarm clock...

ms_miyagi · Jan 23, 2012

I used a Littmann Classic II all through nursing school. I loved it!! It was lightweight and you can hear well with it. It wasn't that expensive and I know that Allheart sells them pretty inexpensively.

nursecat64 · Jan 23, 2012

IWould anyone reccommend the Littmann Lightweight? (It's about $20 cheaper).
I hate to look for the cheapest thing out there, but as you all know, getting started as a nurse is expensive! Tuition, lab fees, scrubs, shoes, textbooks, study guides, drug guides, labs reference guides, care plan guides, watch, stethoscope, coffee, louder alarm clock...

A stethoscope is the one thing you don't want to cheap out on. It's your most important tool, you use it everyday, you use it a lot, and you'll use it for years.. I started out with the cheaper Littmann lightweight, had to get another before too long (it works ok if you're just doing BP's) . I kept resisting shelling out the big bucks for a good stethoscope, Kept buying different brands of less expensive ones. (which ended up costing me more than if I had just bought a good one in the first place! :bugeyes: ) I finally bought a Littmann cardiology II. It is the one thing I couldn't do without, I absolutely love it.(so does everyone else! :lol2: other nurses are always wanting to borrow it when they are having difficulty hearing heart/lung sounds.) I wouldn't use anything else. I've had it ten years. The classic II is good too, but the cardiology was well worth the price.(don't get the Master with the one sided chestpiece, it's not a good one for beginners) Also, make a cover for the tubing of any stethoscope you use or it will become brittle over time. Littmann will replace the tubing for free if it cracks or breaks-lifetime guarantee! Perhaps you could save a little each week brown-bagging lunch, skip daily coffees, or something like that, until you have enough.

:idea: Also "worksource" has a program that helps with things like that. Local service organizations/clubs (Eagles, Elks, VFW, etc.. sometimes help buy equipment and uniforms for needy nursing students. They do in my area. Just start calling around, you might be pleasantly surprised!

Morainey, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2012

I used the Lightweight II for the last year of school. I found that cheap stethoscopes felt really clunky and heavy after a couple of hours, and some had little pieces that would grab little back-of-the-neck hairs. Ouch!

Now I work in ortho med-surg and am still using the Lightweight. I love it!

DixieRedHead, ASN, RN · Jan 23, 2012

I can't say this enough. Walmart has a great stethoscope in a box for $15 bucks. I have had several Littmanns and couldn't hear a thing (just me?). This is a great professional looking stethoscope that I can hear a gnat's heart with.

maryjiel · Jan 24, 2012

You could check some at Pulsestore. They have plenty of Stethoscope to choose from over their site. I have bought from their store for years now and they are still in good condition. here is the link to save you some time. http://www.pulsestore.com/stethoscopes.aspx

Do-over, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2012

I can't say this enough. Walmart has a great stethoscope in a box for $15 bucks. I have had several Littmanns and couldn't hear a thing (just me?). This is a great professional looking stethoscope that I can hear a gnat's heart with.

I actually hear just fine with the cheap sprague that I used in nursing school. The main reason I have and use a Littman is 1)my mother bought it for my birthday and had it engraved and 2) it is much lighter and 3)it fits in my pocket better.

If money is an object, I would suggest that you can survive clinicals just fine with a cheap scope. The one I used for school cost $11. The one I used years ago as an EMT was $8. I heard everything I needed to hear.