Inexpensive bp cuffs and stethescopes?

mcknis · Oct 11, 2007

Hey Amanda, and congrats for going into nursing school. I am also a nursing student (2nd year...woohoo) and hope I can help you out a little. As far as working in a hospital, I don't think there could be a better thing in the world for prevoius students (of course i am a little partial to that idea though). Prices for stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs vary from place to place. You can usually find a blood pressure cuff/stethoscope kit in a drug store, but it may be combined. Since you are going to be going into nursing school, this isn't something i waould suggest, because this is one solid unit (steth is built into the cuff).

I first started out with an economy (aka-cheap) bp cuff/steth kit that i purchased from http://galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=DD009 (this is a large EMS supplier) for about $20. Not a bad price for what you get, but good for BPs and HR (heart rate). For better quality, I would suggest buying this model (http://galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=DD038). The quality is much more than the first one (as is the price), but this is a great stethoscope for an entire physical assessment. Lung sounds are so much clearer and crisper and the assessment you do will be much easier than with the first one.

I have purchased four stethoscopes during my schooling, so I have a little bit of understanding. I first started with first one I listed, then I went up to the next model (just the stethscope). After those, someone told me that mine weren't good enough and that I needed to buy on with 2-tubes because things would be much better. I wish now I hadn't purchased the 2-tube kind (Sprague - also available on the Galls site for about $12) because I couldn't hear anything more than with the first one I had. After I bought those, I used one at the hospital I work at, which happened to be a cardiology scope (Littmann Cardiology III) and it was literally the difference between night and day, so i bought one. That is the only one that I use now for school. (I don't suggest this until you get your skills mastered, and then maybe when Christmas comes around...somebody may wan t to buy it for you)

Overall: I would suggest buying the second one I mentioned (its teal in the picture) because it is a great general stethoscope and you won't be dissatisfied. Other people on here may suggest bying a Littmann, but until you hone your skills, i would wait. The stethoscope I suggested is about $30 (plus you get a BP cuff for practicing with) and the Littmann brand for the exact same model is about $70. Kind of steep i think.