Just got my Littmann Master Cardiology Stethoscope..

Published

Just wanted to say that it's awesome. Much, much better than the cheaper base models you see floating around. I'm not saying that those are worthless or anything, but this one was worth the money. I see it as an investment for the future. Makes listening to heart, breathing, and bowel sounds much clearer and louder. Nice.. :D

The coolest part is being able to hear the blood moving around when the heart contracts.

No way. If you can hear that well, I'm getting one too!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
No way. If you can hear that well, I'm getting one too!

Yeah, it's pretty cool. You have to touch the diapraghm very lightly to the skin to get the lower frequencies, and that's when you hear it. It's like the booming beats, then the sqish sound afterwards.. It's really cool!! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
No way. If you can hear that well, I'm getting one too!

Yeah, it's pretty cool. You have to touch the diapraghm very lightly to the skin to get the lower frequencies, and that's when you hear it. It's like the booming beats, then the sqish sound afterwards.. It's really cool!! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

150.00? I definatly need one of my own for EMS and Nursing!

PS, I believe you will pay more for one from specialtist like for uniform shops, galls.com, or penncare.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm in my 2nd semester of the nursing program (2 more to go!!). I'm awaiting the arrival of my master cardiology steth. I can't wait! I purchased it from Ebay. The one I have now is for the birds (double tubing for 1). I've had a hard time with it from the beginning, especially listening for heart sounds on a large person with CHF. I had to bring my instructor into the room and have her listen. Then I had asked if I could listen with hers and WOW!! It's so worth the investment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.

Go to the Littmann website, or to Stethoscopes.com. I believe they show a comparison. I believe the Master Cardiology is rated 10 with superior accoustics, and the Cardiolgy III is rated 9 with outstanding accoustics.

You might look at Magna Fortis as well. They also make excellent stethoscopes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.
I need to have one with both the diaphragm and the bell. Any recommendations out there for a good one?

The Littmann Cardiology III has a bell & diaphragm. Also Magna Fortis makes good stethoscopes.

Even though the Littmann Master Cardiology does not have a bell, you get the same effect. It has what they call a tunable diaphragm. By applying lighter pressure you get the effect of the bell for listening to lower frequency sounds.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Is this stethoscope as good as everyone is saying, I am thinking about buying one. I want to make sure this will be a good investment first.

Where is the best place to buy?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

I love it :redbeathe. I hear BP's so much better with the cardiology stethoscope. In addition, I find you can hear lung and bowel sounds better.

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Newborn ICU, Trauma ICU, Burn ICU, Peds.

allheart has about the best prices I've seen. I love mine, but I don't use it much. to the poster who wondered about better scopes coming out when they "get older," :coollook: I've had mine for about 10 years and the Master Cadiology is still "the" scope out there. Hard to improve upon perfection.

I will STRONGLY caution all of you against wearing your scope around your neck. Do NOT do it (I did for years and learned the hard and expensive way...). Not only because some nutty patient could grab it and drag you down to them with it, and not only because you can catch it on things about chest level (IV tubing, etc), but most importantly because the oils from your skin hardens the tubing over time. I have (had) a neonatal Littman that was worn around a neck for several years and now the tubing is cracked in several places. There is a nifty clip you can buy from most uniform stores and sites that clips to the waistband of your pants that holds your scope neatly. Or buy a few of those "pajamas" they make for scopes, but you have to remember to take it off or push it way up when you are doing your exams. Can you imagine the number of bugs those things could be harboring if you didn't? I'd recommend getting a couple and switching them out and washing them frequently.

The Master Cardiology *is* "the" scope IMHO, but another thing to remember is that if you are even considering peds or neonatal as a career choice, don't spend the money because they don't work for little ones (the "adapter" is awful). Also, many, many facilities are moving away from your own scopes and putting one at every bedside, we just did...and I had purchased a new Littman Neo (because of the cracks in my other one) about one month before. Lastly, most folks aren't in need of hearing the intricacies of S4, pansystolic murmurs or diastolic rumbles, we aren't cardiologists. If you are going to do ICU, ER or Cards, maybe... But you need to consider all those things especially if money is tight. Here's a link to a comparision chart on Littmann scopes :

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/allheart/littmannspecs.pdf

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Newborn ICU, Trauma ICU, Burn ICU, Peds.

I almost forgot, I wanted to mention that if you have, or get a Master Cardiology, to take it to your local Things Remembered and get your name engraved on the head. That's the only Littman they can engrave, but it does fit in their machine, I had mine done for about $17. Well worth it. Tags can be removed, names on tubing can sometimes be scratched off (or if it's done with Sharpie on a light tubing-it just looks bad after a while). But an engraved head is permanent.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

where can i go online that will engrave when you buy one from their site?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion