Medical Equipment ???'s

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:nurse:While waiting approval into nursing school that I recently applied for, I registered for an EMT-Basic program this fall. I figure the more knowledge I posess, the better nurse I may become :D....I was wondering, what type of brands/types do you recommend for the following items:

-stethoscope

-blood pressure cuff

-wrist watch

-micromask

I was looking for the most cost effective and adequate brands, thanks.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
:nurse:While waiting approval into nursing school that I recently applied for, I registered for an EMT-Basic program this fall. I figure the more knowledge I posess, the better nurse I may become :D....I was wondering, what type of brands/types do you recommend for the following items:

-stethoscope

-blood pressure cuff

-wrist watch

-micromask

I was looking for the most cost effective and adequate brands, thanks.

Pretty much personal preference. I use an ultrascope. Isn't the cuff supplied and the micromask?

As for watch, whatever works for you, IMO

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Pretty much personal preference. I use an ultrascope. Isn't the cuff supplied and the micromask?

As for watch, whatever works for you, IMO

they aren't supplying nothing, the school sells it in the bookstore, but they extremely high. a book, b/p cuff, stethoscope and micromask for $300 is a lot.

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To me, the stethoscope is the only thing to spend any significant amount of money on.... I like Littman= but I found a brand that sounds the same for 1/3 of the price...A med student tried mine, and was ticked off about spending a couple of hundred bucks for his:D....Prestige Medical is the brand.

The other stuff should either be provided, or you can ask at a uniform store... they have fairly decent selections :) But you can probably find them cheaper online.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I use an ultrascope and love it.

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they aren't supplying nothing, the school sells it in the bookstore, but they extremely high. a book, b/p cuff, stethoscope and micromask for $300 is a lot.

Check online nursing supply stores...school bookstores are not known for good deals :)

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

I don't know that an EMT course will benefit you very much with respect to nursing.

The difference is night and day. Not that it's bad training but EMT information covers pre-hospital care and nursing is for institution or facility care. CNA or other programs will help you out more. Just my :twocents:.

Get a watch with a second-hand.

Stethoscopes are really cheap on Ebay (Got a master cardiology Littmann for 100.00)

BP cuffs can be picked up @ any local pharmacy.

A pen-light or mini-mag flashlight serves many purposes too.

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I don't know that an EMT course will benefit you very much with respect to nursing.

The difference is night and day. Not that it's bad training but EMT information covers pre-hospital care and nursing is for institution or facility care. CNA or other programs will help you out more. Just my :twocents:.

Get a watch with a second-hand.

Stethoscopes are really cheap on Ebay (Got a master cardiology Littmann for 100.00)

BP cuffs can be picked up @ any local pharmacy.

A pen-light or mini-mag flashlight serves many purposes too.

I was thinking that after taking the course, i could get a part-time ER tech position at the hospital in my area, I know quite a few nurses, who can put in a word or two on my behalf. The hospitals in my area want ER techs who went through an EMT course, while others want CNAs. I know one nurse in particular who became an ER tech, worked part time through nursing school and when she graduated, and they immediately hired here as a nurse in the Emergency Department.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Stethoscope- Littmann. A Classic II should be fine for your needs and you can get one for about 80-90 dollars. They aren't cheap, but they are great quality and will last for years. You'll find that cheap stethoscopes have really poor sound quality.

Blood pressure cuff- There isn't really a superior brand. When you are working, these are provided for you, so don't spend a fortune on one. Your basic medical supply store or pharmacy should have them for 25-30 dollars.

Wrist watch- this is purely a personal preference. Some good features to look for are: water resistant (you'll be washing your hands a lot), a second hand, large enough to easily see the time, and a back-light if you'll be working in dimly lit areas.

As far as the mask is concerned, just search amazon or another online store for CPR micromask. You can probably find one for about 15 dollars.

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Pretty much personal preference. I use an ultrascope. Isn't the cuff supplied and the micromask?

As for watch, whatever works for you, IMO

YEP--I agree. I too have an ultrascope and I love it. I had a really hard time hearing with any other ones. You have such a big selection that it is less likely that someone (a doctor or other nurse) will walk off with it. I know some people use the cheapies at the hospital but I couldn't hear squat. I swear I could hear an ant fart with mine! :D

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To me, the stethoscope is the only thing to spend any significant amount of money on.... I like Littman= but I found a brand that sounds the same for 1/3 of the price...A med student tried mine, and was ticked off about spending a couple of hundred bucks for his:D....Prestige Medical is the brand.

The other stuff should either be provided, or you can ask at a uniform store... they have fairly decent selections :) But you can probably find them cheaper online.

I agree about the Prestige Stethoscope. I have the Prestige Lite which is about the cheapest one you can buy at a scrub store (about $28 bucks). BUT...I can hear 10x better out of it than a Littman for some reason. Not sure if it is because of the way my ears are shaped or what. I have tried a Littman and hated how it felt and sounded. This Presige is SO light on your neck and has amazing acoustics! I recommend going to a scrub store and actually listening through all of them. It all depends on how well YOU can hear. Everyone will have different preferences.

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I agree about the Prestige Stethoscope. I have the Prestige Lite which is about the cheapest one you can buy at a scrub store (about $28 bucks). BUT...I can hear 10x better out of it than a Littman for some reason. Not sure if it is because of the way my ears are shaped or what. I have tried a Littman and hated how it felt and sounded. This Presige is SO light on your neck and has amazing acoustics! I recommend going to a scrub store and actually listening through all of them. It all depends on how well YOU can hear. Everyone will have different preferences.

Yep ! If you have friends who have good clean ears, maybe test a few out on each other (wipe down afterwards)... :)

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