Buying a Stethoscope

Nurses Uniform/Gear

Published

Hi everyone,

I saw a 3M Littmann Classic II SE Stethoscope Pink Breast Cancer edition for sale for approx. $80 CAD ($63USD). I am planning on applying to nursing school this coming summer. So with that said, I'm not accepted or starting any time soon (if I get accepted, I will be starting January 2010). A friend of mine who's already in nursing school said that she bought her at the beginning of her first year at school and it was really expensive and that if I can get it for something around $75 CAD it would be considered as a really good price.

I know that Littmann's is a highly regarded brand, I was wondering if this is one in particular is considered as a good stethoscope? Is it a good price?

Also, should I get it now, or I should wait until I get accepted because this offer is not going to last long. Will stethoscopes go bad and crack if I leave it unused for a really long time?

Thanks,

:heartbeat Angel

Specializes in ICU.
Interesting info about the PVC composition, JJ. How is it possible to find out what a given stethoscope is made of?

BTW, talk about your right angle career turns: plastics compounder to RN. Bet there's a story behind that! I'm ex-sales, myself.

Tom

About the only way I can think of would be to do destructive testing (grind some plastic, do a solvent extraction, run it through analytical equipment like a HPLC). In my past experience, 3M usually makes good stuff - well designed/manufactured, but $$$.

Yes, I definitely did a "right angle career turn". In my 22 year career as a chemical engineer at a large supplier of automotive sealants/adhesives/undercoatings (many of which were PVC based), I got to do product design, testing, production supervision/management, QC, tech service...all that good stuff. Never wanted to do sales that much - I can't just "BS on autopilot", as many good salespeople can do when interacting with customers. While doing the engineering thing, I was also a volunteer EMT/Paramedic on my local fire dept for ~19 years. That's what drew me to nursing.

Specializes in pediatrics/ER.

Yeah, not many of us have the ability to grind up a perfectly good stethoscope to find out what the plastic is made of. Sounds like it would be fun to do, though.

Don't you think it's odd that a product selling millions of units every year at prices between $10 and several hundred dollars doesn't have any objective data available on some consumer/health care website anywhere?

I found one small study (see link in my original post) that analyzed some top sellers, but outside of that I didn't find much of anything. Maybe Consumer Reports? I'm not willing to subscribe just to research one product. If somebody reading this thread has a subscription, maybe they could check it out.

Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Hey Tom, I saw that same link too several years ago and found that the scope he was talking about (sprague) although in some instance good quality, the one scope that it was designed from was a $200-300 model and is no longer in making. If you can still find one in good condition (HP branded), I am guessing that it would not make it to your neck for daily assessments, however would be in the closet or at Sothebys (auction house) trying to get you several g's for it. The current Sprague-type scopes are chinese made clones of the original and most can't stand up to its quality. May be ok inside of a school lab, but anything else outside of that, not too great.

Specializes in pediatrics/ER.

Howdy McKnis-

I think the article you saw must've been a different one. The study I'm referring to was published in July of last year and the Sprague-Rappaport they refer to is the only one that Omron makes and retails for about $20.00.

I'm not sure where it's manufactured (probably China, judging by the price) or how it will perform since I've not received it yet. I've heard that Spragues can cause a bit of artifactual noise from the two tubes rubbing together. I've also hear that this can be remedied by the judicious application of tape.

Of course, that would bring up some hygiene issues but I think that could be dealt with by buying one of those darling stethoscope covers. I'm thinking either CareBears or Unicorns.

Overall, I'm amazed at the lack of objective info available. How are you enjoying your first year of nursing?

Tom

Specializes in ICU.
Howdy McKnis-

I think the article you saw must've been a different one. The study I'm referring to was published in July of last year and the Sprague-Rappaport they refer to is the only one that Omron makes and retails for about $20.00.

I'm not sure where it's manufactured (probably China, judging by the price) or how it will perform since I've not received it yet. I've heard that Spragues can cause a bit of artifactual noise from the two tubes rubbing together. I've also hear that this can be remedied by the judicious application of tape.

Of course, that would bring up some hygiene issues but I think that could be dealt with by buying one of those darling stethoscope covers. I'm thinking either CareBears or Unicorns.

I had a Sprague-Rappaport style 'scope. Not sure who made it (probably the lowest bidder). YES, the rubber tubes do bang/clang/rub against each other, causing plenty of mystery noises. The earpieces (either hard plastic or semi-hard rubbery plastic) were less than adequate.

If you have decent soft earpieces, and tape (or heat shrink tubing) the tubes together, that should eliminate most of the issues. Most of the stethoscope covers are very loose, and won't prevent tubing noise. Maybe tape PLUS 'scope covers would do the job.

I already own a number of stethoscopes, but just ordered a GRX Medical CD29 stethoscope (Littman Cardiology III clone) off fleabay today. Should be interesting to see how it does. $35 for the GRX is much less $$$ than $140-$170 for the Littman.

Specializes in pediatrics/ER.

"heat shrink tubing"? That sounds interesting. Where do you get it and how do you use it? I was figuring just to tape the tubes and then put a washable cover over it because I think the tape would be something of a bug magnet, even more than the tubing itself. I was actually concerned that the cover might cause more "mystery noise".

I'll be curious to hear how your Cardio-Clone works out. Perhaps you can update this thread later when you've had a chance to use it some?

BTW, I'd also be curious to hear what you made of that study I linked to. Personally, I was impressed with their thoroughness and wonder that they didn't try to publish it in a peer-reviewed journal.

Specializes in ICU.
"heat shrink tubing"? That sounds interesting. Where do you get it and how do you use it? I was figuring just to tape the tubes and then put a washable cover over it because I think the tape would be something of a bug magnet, even more than the tubing itself. I was actually concerned that the cover might cause more "mystery noise".

I'll be curious to hear how your Cardio-Clone works out. Perhaps you can update this thread later when you've had a chance to use it some?

BTW, I'd also be curious to hear what you made of that study I linked to. Personally, I was impressed with their thoroughness and wonder that they didn't try to publish it in a peer-reviewed journal.

Heat shrink tubing is used in electronics. Before soldering 2 wires together, you slide a length of heat shrink tubing over one of the wires (away from the exposed wire ends). You solder it, then slide the tubing so it covers the soldered joint. Apply heat via match or heat gun, and the tubing shrinks to fit tightly over the wires, insulating the repaired area. Very handy. This stuff is available in a variety of diameters & colors.

I'd seen the report you linked to in the past. I agree that it seems well thought out & very useful overall.

Specializes in pediatrics/ER.

That heat shrink tubing sounds like just the thing! Is it durable enough that it would stand up to use on a stethoscope, do you think? I wonder if it comes in a large enough diameter? Those Spragues are pretty fat. Thanks for the tip!

Specializes in ICU.
That heat shrink tubing sounds like just the thing! Is it durable enough that it would stand up to use on a stethoscope, do you think? I wonder if it comes in a large enough diameter? Those Spragues are pretty fat. Thanks for the tip!

Yes, it's pretty durable stuff. You'd need to check online as to the sizes available. The biggest size I have at home is ~1/2" diameter. To use it on a Sprague-Rappaport type scope, you'd need to remove the tubing from where it attaches to the earpieces, then slide the heat shrink tubing over the rubber hoses, shrink it in place, then reattach the earpieces. Or you could just use black (or red or blue) adhesive backed electrical tape.

Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

well tom, the first year is really good and i do enjoy it! another thought I had, was since you are a ER tech, i would suggest asking a few of your coworkers what they use and why they use their stethoscopes...

I am starting the Nursing program and have been looking for a stethoscope. This was very helpful - thank you to all that take the time to post messages, they really do help.

I have the Classic II S.E. (in Ocean Blue :)) and I LOVE it. I think the quality is great and I can hear very well with it! That particular scope has an acoustical rating of 7 whereas the Lightweight one has an acoustical rating of 5. I can hear better with my scope than I can with my friend's Ultrascope, which are supposed to be comparable, if not better, than Littmann stethoscopes. The Ultrascopes are more expensive - my friend paid $100USD for it and I paid $74.95USD (that includes tax and S&H) for my Littmann Classic II S.E.

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