Littmann classic II S.E. or Littmann Cardiology III

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I just got accepted into nursing school and of course the first thing I want to do is buy a stethoscope! I've read a ton of the current posts on here and I want some new insight. These are the two I have it narrowed down to. I'm not worried about it "walking away" or the price because I am so excited and this is my gift to myself! I want to know honestly which is the best for clinical's, the most comfortable to carry around, and just what people like the best. I also reallyyyy want the coral color but I read about light colors getting scuffed and marked up easily? Is this true? Whatever I buy I plan on having for a while so I want it to look nice for as long as possible.

Thank you for any tips!

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I have both. I started off with the Classic II S.E. for nursing school then bought the Cardiology III. The S.E. is more comfortable to carry around especially on your neck, as the chest piece on the Cardiology III is kind of heavy. The Cardiology III has longer tubing, though, which I like. Overall they are really good scopes but I prefer the Cardiology III because the acoustics are better (I can hear things better with it!) And yes, it's true with the lighter color scopes. My S.E. is in ocean blue and I ended up having random black scuff marks on it (that I cannot get off) and my dark colored scrubs have actually started to rub off on to the scope so it is now stained. That's kind of a bummer because it looks kind of crappy now but it still works great. My Cardiology III is in plum (dark purple) so I have no issues with visible scuff marks or staining.

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.

If you can spring for it, get a good cardiology scope with the two tubes in one design. I have had both the Littman & the MDF? one.

Sent from my HTC One X using allnurses.com

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If you want to splurge as a gift to yourself then get the nicer one. Both of them will do the job, Ive seen some drs walking around with the cheap isolation stethoscopes around their necks, I honestly think that some of them just dont own their own...I dont know how they can hear anything on those things.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I've had both. Since cost isn't an issue and if you're not at all worried about it growing feet, I'd say to go with the Cardiology III. Otherwise, I would recommend the Classic II S.E. without reservation. I don't lend my stethoscope out. It's a Cardiology III. I've had mine for about 14 years now, it's still doing the job, and hasn't walked away. Here's the thing, learn what you need to hear and once you're good at it, you'll be able to use anything from the cheap stethoscopes to the multi-hundred dollar electronic models without any significant problem.

The other stethoscope I use is a Lightweight II S.E. It's basically a lightweight version of the Classic II SE. Mine's no longer made... but it's replacement, the Light, is fairly decent as well.

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I love my Classic II SE, but I hate how gross it has started looking. I got mine in nursing school and have used it for many years. I would go with black, even though it is boring, just because the tubes will look fresh for much longer. Mine is raspberry and has pen marks, and lord knows what else, all over it.

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Thank you everyone!!! I'm definitely going to go with the cardiology iii. Thanks for all your input :)

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I'd go for the cardiology III but I'd stay away from the rainbow head. I've used mine so much that the rainbow finish is starting to rub off. I'm a little sad about that. However, I'd still get a regular Littmann Cardiology III. I use mine a lot and it may be the wipes I was using to clean it. I do like my classic II rainbow finish and I don't use it as much so it didn't rub off.

Get the head of the stethoscope engraved and not the tubing. Tubing costs like 60 bucks compared to 130+ stethoscope. Best time to buy is Black Friday or Nurses Week. I think Black Friday is better. Black tubing works well and I have the carribean green tubing and that works well too. No pen marks or anything.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I'd say the II S.E. for school, then treat yourself to an engraved Cardiology III after graduation. Also, if you want coral, get the coral. Any steth is going to get beat up over time...if you're stressed over keeping it "showroom new", then get black.

Whatever you get...if you get it engraved, DON'T put RN/LVN on it until you graduate (unless you already have that license). You can and will be called out on it.

Good luck with school!

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I got a cardiology iii for school ad I was really happy I got that. Never had a problem hearing things and I oftentimes felt like asking my classmates if they wanted to borrow mine so they could hear what I could. I tried to hold back though. lol good luck! I got the purple color and loved it. I also had it engraved.

ETA- I had the plum color and after two years still looks good. Close up you might find some marks on it but definitely doesn't look crummy like a light color might after two years.

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