Inexpensive Stethoscope for Student

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Specializes in None yet.

Hello,

I am hoping to not spend a fortune on a stethoscope when I start school in January. The ones the school has are $80 but I found this http://www.allheart.com/ahdset001.html would it just be a waste of money ordering it? Has anyone on here had an all heart product before was it any good?

Thanks

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Specializes in Med./Surg. and paramed. exams.

Screw the book store, buy what fits your budget, should work fine.

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Do you know what type the scope from the school is?

I think you'll probably regret buying such a cheap stethoscope. The difference is immense when it comes to clarity, loudness etc. in cheap vs. quality stethoscopes.

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I bought a Prestige Medical stethoscope for school. The uniform store I went to suggested this in lieu of a littman due to the risk of it "walking away" during clinicals. It was 50.00 and is similar to a littman. I really like it.

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I never understood the whole phenomenon with stethoscopes "walking away" during clinical.....I have a $160 stethoscope for the past two years that has NEVER walked away.....I've never had it out of my sight....if I'm not using it, it's tucked away in a pocket. I don't know what all these people are doing to have their stethoscopes "walk away" from them....maybe they bought magical walking scopes....Anywho

My advice is to buy the best you can afford. As a student, our inexperienced ears need as much help as possible to distinguish between the various sounds, and by being cheap you can potentially rob yourself of your education. My $0.02

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Specializes in FNP.

As a student get a sprague for about $20. You won't know what to do with a Cardiology Master series stethoscope anyway, and it will make a great graduation gift for someone else to pay for. May sure to get it engraved and it won't walk away. ;)

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Don't get that one from Allheart. I had one and could hear better with a toy from Fisher Price...no joke. I've used many stethoscopes and definitely recommend a lower end Littmann (esp the Select - about $50 just order Soft ear tips too from Littmann), Prestige Clinical I, or ADC 603. The Sprague can be good, but for many it is not. The Sprague is a two tube stethoscope, and these are always sold in nursing school bookstores. Try it out. If you like one, fine, if not, never look back! The above scopes I mentioned range from 30-60 bucks. Look at this site for the best price on the ADC 603... (http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&cat=&style=EM265)

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bookstore - dont buy from there if you dont have too - just i guess what fits your price range i would rec a littman classic 2 s.e you could prob you a lightweight too

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I just got a Prestige Clinical I for school....it costs about $40 It the same design as the Littmann Classic except for no tunable diaphragm. I tryed both out at the store and couldnt tell a difference in the sound (im sure littman is a bit more sensitive, but im not experienced enough to notice it). And most reveiws I have read on it say it is pretty much comparable to the Littmann Classic and good for nursing except for maybe critical care (which Littmann does not recomend its classic line for either.) My dad was getting me my stethoscope for me for christmas, and I was at first going to get a Littman, but I decided to wait on getting a Littmann til I can get the engraving on it with "RN" after my name (would have gotten myself one once i could even if already had one). Plus i think at least for me the tunable diaphragm may be a bit awkward and distracting for me to deal with having never even used a stethoscope.

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