Is learning on a cheap stethoscope better?

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I purchased a Littmann Classic II se for myself once I got accepted and was given a checklist of things that we need. A nurse friend of mine, after finding out that I bought a fancier model, said that its recommended for me to "learn to listen" on a cheap stethoscope first, and save the good one for after I graduate. That way my ears will be trained to hear things better and then when I do use a good model, boom I'll hear everything. This makes sense I suppose but can anyone else vouch for it? I want you all to give your opinion. At one time I was a classically trained professional musician who went through quite a bit of ear training, so I already tend to notice things that other people don't (in music). Not sure if that would be a good or bad thing when I'm learning to hear different sounds. Should I go ahead and buy a little $20 student scope? The way that my friend said this almost implied that I would be at a disadvantage by starting off on a good stethoscope. Like my ears won't turn out to be as sensitive as they could be. Any validity to this?

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I don't think it's necessary. Although I started off with a $20 stethoscope when I was in nursing school and only bought the Littmann classic II recently, I regret not getting it sooner. I'm able to appreciate more sounds that were vague or couldn't hear with the cheap ones. If you're going to use it in the future, might as well start using and practicing with it during nursing school.

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That makes sense too. I ended up buying a $13 sprague anyway. Figured if I can nail a particular skill on that thing, I can really appreciate when I do it on my Littmann.

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The big debate.

You don't want to go so cheap but not super expensive either(sad day if it grows legs). The sound quality is important for sure.

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I also had the Littman Classic II for nursing school. It worked for me, and my ears haven't had a "decreased sensitivity" to sounds whilst using it.

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

This doesn't make logical sense to me. You're not training to have super-human hearing or even to improve your hearing (which is structurally determined), but to discriminate the different sounds. Ear training in music doesn't train your ears to hear faint sounds, but to discriminate pitches and rhythm. Having a cheap scope that doesn't transmit sounds as clearly will only keep you from hearing what's really going on. As a student, you would want a scope that is good enough so you can learn what abnormal lung/heart sounds are like. On the other hand, I don't think you need a $200 scope either. I have a littman that's about $70 and I have been able to pick up crakles, wheezes, irregular heart beats, and bowel sounds.

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Specializes in Critical care.

My nursing program included a stethoscope with a large lab fee my first semester. Everyone at the school gets the same stethoscope and it's a Littman Classic II. I heard they used to give out a cheaper one, but everyone would just go out and buy a nicer one of their own so they changed. My classic II is now my spare I keep in my locked locker at work as I was given a nicer one by family as a graduation gift.

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This doesn't make logical sense to me. You're not training to have super-human hearing or even to improve your hearing (which is structurally determined), but to discriminate the different sounds. Ear training in music doesn't train your ears to hear faint sounds, but to discriminate pitches and rhythm. Having a cheap scope that doesn't transmit sounds as clearly will only keep you from hearing what's really going on. As a student, you would want a scope that is good enough so you can learn what abnormal lung/heart sounds are like. On the other hand, I don't think you need a $200 scope either. I have a littman that's about $70 and I have been able to pick up crakles, wheezes, irregular heart beats, and bowel sounds.

It barely makes sense to me either. I think having something I won't struggle to hear with is a good thing. Now I do think a $250 stethoscope is going way overboard, but an $80 Littmann is perfect middle of the road equipment to use while in school. This is literally the only time anyone has ever brought something like that up and told me to NOT get good school supplies.

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Specializes in ICU.

I bought a cardiology III, and I don't regret it at all. Many classmates used my scope to hear. It can be hard to pick up certain sounds with a cheap one especially when you don't know what you are listening to.

Its up to you, but mine came with a lengthy warranty as well. I still have a hard time listening for certain heart sounds. Nursing school will not make you an expert on that. My next one will be a slightly cheaper model because at that point it will be easier for me to pick up those subtle differences. It was worth the money for me.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Completely disagree about learning on a cheap model first. How are you going to learn to distinguish between two sounds if you can't hear them to begin with? I had a Littman Lightweight II stethoscope that I used while I was an EMT that I thought was awesome, until I had to buy a Littmann Cardiology III for nursing school over 6 years ago.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

I started with a cardio and switched down to a classic 2. I liked the classic 2 better. The cardio was way too much. I also have a super cheapie that came with my BP cuff and I can't hear damn thing with it unless there is 100% complete silence, which doesn't happen in real life.

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Laughing hard at how everyone is like "that makes NO sense". Well the verdict is in. I'll keep my cheapo for an emergency backup and have the Littmann for everyday use. It's cuter anyway. I'm very receptive to advice people give me, even wacky advice, since I've never done any of this before and just want to be good at it. It does seem like I would be cheating myself out of my education to intentionally use a lower quality scope when I have access to a better one. Would be different if it's all I could afford.

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