Littmann Cardiology III Stethoscope or Classic II S.E?

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I'm not sure which to get. I graduate in a year so I want to buy one I can use when I graduate. On the Littman website, it says the Carido III is for cardiologists, respiratory therapists, etc- but I've seen nurses with the Cardio III. Any advice to which one I should get? If I don't have to spend the extra $$ for the Cardio III that would be great, but if it's the gold standard for nurses, I'll get it. I tested both out and liked them

Thanks!

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I have a Cardiology III and so does my mother...we both love them :) :twocents:

But it's rather personal opinion than anything. :D

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Specializes in Ob/gyn, peds.

Hi, I have the littman cardiology III, and have had it for 3 years and love it. It is great for just regular B/P and also its great for respiratory sound along with cardio sounds. :yeah:

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Specializes in ER.

I had a Classic and the tubing broke in about 2 months. I wear it around my neck and always have it. I bought a Cardiology III over 2 years ago and it is still like new. IMHO the Card III is well worth the extra money.

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cardiology III is good.

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i will be starting school at the end of this month and i am torn between these 2 steths. both look very appealing and i am having a hard time deciding. i need to make a decision fairly quickly as i need to have my steth by june 4.

do any of you have any suggestions on which one would be best for a new nursing student...preferably something that will last even after i graduate!

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i will be starting school at the end of this month and i am torn between these 2 steths. both look very appealing and i am having a hard time deciding. i need to make a decision fairly quickly as i need to have my steth by june 4.

do any of you have any suggestions on which one would be best for a new nursing student...preferably something that will last even after i graduate!

I start NS Jun 9th.

I just ordered the III (with a coupon for a student kit direct from 3M) from steele.com. I also had it engraved.

good luck on the decision and in school!

Mark

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thanks for the info! i think i'm gonna try to get the cardiology III...but only if i can come up with enough money to get it. i sure hope it's worth it in the long run!!!

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thanks for the info! i think i'm gonna try to get the cardiology III...but only if i can come up with enough money to get it. i sure hope it's worth it in the long run!!!

allheart.com is cheaper.

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I'm not sure why most nursing students are just stressing and drooling over these Littmann stethoscopes, mostly because of the brand name. I'm guilty of this trend myself, as I own a Classic II SE and Cardiology III scope; however, my gf, who's a 3rd year medical student just told me the other day that her school is steering people away from these tunable diaphragm scopes, as very few med students could use them well in most situations. In contrast to the tunable diaphragm, the traditional floating diaphragm doesn't require a firm and square pressure in order to reproduce accurate high pitch sounds (hardly any patients are flat). Try to compare the low pitch sounds from a traditional deep-cone bell and from a "tuned" low pitch diaphragm on a Littman and you will notice that the bell produces a much cleaner and crisper sound (vs a muffled and boomy sound). This is very easily tested by converting your Cardiology III's pediatric side into a deep bell and then try to see if you can match the quality of the sounds from your tunable diaphragm. This is the reason why medical schools are steering away from these tunable diaphragms, it's a joke. However, I have to admit 3M products are high quality products, just overrated and overpriced. I can be sure once my Cardiology III breaks or is stolen (somebody already took the II SE from my bag), there won't be another Littman stethoscope around my neck. Look around and you will find there are very many quality-built stethoscopes out there at a lower cost (make sure it has a quality steel chestpiece, thick dual lumen tubing, comfortable eartips, etc). Hate to see poor nursing students squeezing out every chunk of their change just to have a "Littmann".

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beyondx4 (or anybody for that matter)...what would you suggest a nursing student purchase? I will be starting in the fall, and have a birthday btwn now and then...so what should I request?

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
beyondx4 (or anybody for that matter)...what would you suggest a nursing student purchase? I will be starting in the fall, and have a birthday btwn now and then...so what should I request?

Many many threads on that very subject.

If you do an allnurses.com search (upper R corner) on "nursing student + stethoscope" you should find quite a bit.

In the end, though some stethoscopes work better for some people than others, just because we (and they) are all different. Good luck. :)

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