Is a stethoscope a stethoscope?

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Aug 7, 2008

To a point, the more $$$ you spend the better job the stethoscope does at picking up the sound! I have the Littman classic II s.e. and it does a good job. Give bay a look. And I'm sure if you do a search on this site, someone has posted the benefits of a better stethoscope. I have a cheapy one as well I bought for my EMT course and I was always able to get it to work.

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Aug 7, 2008

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/allhe...anncompare.pdf

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/stethoscopes-new-nurse-15949.html

http://bergware.net/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/merchandise?/Z111111 $61.95

http://www.allheart.com/2200-16.html $63.98 one just has to see who has the cheaper shipping!! Lot of people bought from allheart.com, havent heard of bergware.net

If you do a search on here, there are pages and pages of stethoscope info. Many say the cheaper ones ---Like the $15 you see at the MEC bookstore will have a poorer sound and more noise. For obtaining a BP, any stethoscope would do, but when it comes to picking up abnormal heart/lung sounds, well one wants a "clearer" sound. As well many have mentioned, keep an eye on ur stethoscope, as they do tend to "wander" lol

KourtneiNurse · Aug 7, 2008

I made it through school with a "cheapy" one and I was fine. I don't regret it. Everyone rushed to get a Littman and I told myself that once I became and RN I would treat myself to one. However, I can't bring myself to spend $70 on something I toss in my locker, leave in my car, and forget on my unit all the time. I may be wrong, but I don't see the big deal. I wouldn't go as cheap as $12, but a good $20-30 cardiac scope like mine should do well. Also, I remember being told that the ones with two tubes add noise so try to get the single one.

Horselover44 · Aug 9, 2008

Littman stethoscopes are good and you get what you pay for. I would recommend whichever one you purchase have a single tube as the double tubes are noisy. Best of luck in the future, nursing is a great profession.

Julie

matt59 · Aug 9, 2008

What i will tell you from experience is:

if you have wrecked your hearing, all stethoscopes are not created equal.

WorkinTheStreets · Aug 13, 2008

For school, almost anything will do. I work full time in EMS and use a $15 dual-tube model. Works fine for what I do...BP's and lung sounds. I actually have three of them...One in my work bag, one in my locker and one in my Jeep's jump bag. Losing one in the middle of a shift :banghead: and not having a spare is not an option. Losing a $15 item somewhere is much better then losing a $70 one. I do not treat them nice and other then cracking a diaphragm every now and then, they work fine. When I finish school, I'll by a "Good" one.

Remember, this item is a primary tool for doing your job....the thing that provides you money to pay your bills. Invest wisely.

firecoins · Aug 13, 2008

my stethescope is a chair.

FNSnatch · Aug 13, 2008

I've had a Littman when I became an EMT many moons ago, and it works well.. I recently purchased a few scopes to try out off of ebay.. The ones I'm more impressed with are the Bullzeye cadiology, and Kila labs.. The Kila labs one I have was mainly for heart murmurs, and works well..

calledtodo · Aug 13, 2008

I bought a Littman cardiology because I can hear better with it. It was nearly 200 dollars but I feel it was worth it.

Kylea · Aug 16, 2008

I love my littman. I didn't use it during school, I used the cheapy one we got with our books. My Littman was a graduation present from my husband. I can't hear anything with the cheapy ones anymore :) HTH