I know Littman gets rave reviews but.........

boggle, ASN, RN · Nov 18, 2002

I understand the financial need to just pick up a cheap stethescope while you are a student. (You hardly have enough money to gas up the car !!)

BUT ........I can't believe the huge difference in sound between my cheapie stethescope and the $100ish Littmans and Ultrascopes!!!

No wonder I struggled so much with heart and lung sounds!! I couldn't hear!!

So my revised priority is to spend the money on tools that will make it easier to learn.

RN2B2005 · Nov 19, 2002

Check out eBay for great deals on Littmann 'scopes--just make sure that you read through the description carefully and know exactly what you're buying before you bid, since you can't send it back. Check allheart.com for the lowest prices on Littmann stethoscopes, then use that price as a guideline for how high to bid on eBay. Do your research!! If you buy on eBay, be aware that in 1994, Littmann changed the design of their earpieces...so if you look at the pic and the box looks old, or there isn't one, ask the seller when he or she bought the 'scope. Also, it seems like a lot of sellers offer up "slightly used" 'scopes with engraving on the chestpiece--a clue that it might be stolen. Be suspicious.

I bought a new Littmann Classic II SE on eBay for about $40, including shipping (allheart.com's lowest price was about $50 w/o shipping). I paid twice as much as some of my classmates who have the "cheapie" 'scopes, but I haven't had the same difficulty hearing things my classmates have had, either.

bpayne0331 · Feb 1, 2006

I bought a Littman Lightweight II SE when I started LVN school in August and mine just broke. So, I don't know. Now I need a new one.

student4ever · Feb 1, 2006

I bought a Littman Lightweight II SE when I started LVN school in August and mine just broke. So, I don't know. Now I need a new one.

I too am trying to find a good stethoscope that I can HEAR with. I don't know what is wrong with me, but on every littman I have tried from the nurses at work, I can't hear a thing!!! The only thing I can seem to hear anything with are the cheaper stethoscopes. I have heard wonderful things about Ultrascopes, but I wish I could find someone who has one so I could try it before I spend so much money on one!!! And for some reason, I can seem to hear better with single tubing steths than I can with dual tubing (spragues and the like). I don't know what it is with me and littmans, but I can't hear worth crap with those things. Not on my "to buy" list.

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Feb 1, 2006

My dh did me a favor and bought me a Sprague ($14):chuckle . It made me realize that sometimes it is worth it to pay for comfort. That darn thing was sooooo heavy and the earpieces killed my ears! I dreaded just having to put it in!

So, this Christmas he bought me a Littmann III! I paid $140, shipping included. There were some cheaper ones, but we had the cash, so I made him cough it up! It feels sooooo good and the sound quality is like night and day! I bought mine at Steele Supply Co. They are an authorized distributor and linked on the littmann website. There prices were some of the best I found when I researched. Steeles.com

now if I can just keep it in sight, all will be good.

KatieBell · Feb 1, 2006

I bought a Littman Lightweight II SE when I started LVN school in August and mine just broke. So, I don't know. Now I need a new one.

you should be able to just send it back to Littman and they will send you a new one. I had my Littman Classic II overseas and It got entirely clogged with sand, and the tubing got a little brittle. I sent it in and in a week or so they sent it back to me completely refurbished. Originally it cost me 40.00 US on ebay.

Our school required a Littman Classic or above, which might tell you something.

Personally the only other Stethoscope I liked was a Tycos, and it also cost over 100.00. It was a lost scope given to me after I had three "stolen" by residents and my manager felt bad for me....

NurseStace · Feb 2, 2006

Hi,

I'm not in school anymore, but i've been through my share of stethascopes, I've had spragues, and littmans, the one I just bought, was from DRG... I spent abour $80 for it, but I can hear a fly phart in the next room. comes with diaphram covers that are antimicrobial, and can be washed and autoclaved. was worth the investment.

Achoo!, LPN · Feb 2, 2006

Steeles are good ones too.

nursemelani · Feb 2, 2006

For some reason, I always have to hold the top of my littman stethoscope at an angle ( lift up on the headpeice) to hear breathsounds. When I have used cheap stethoscopes, I don't have this problem.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 2, 2006

I didn't invest in a good steth until after graduation. I learned by watching others in nursing school, the more your steth cost, the higher the odds of it growing legs and taking a stroll.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2006

If you can hear heart sounds, respirations, and bowel movements very well with a cheap stethoscope, purchase the cheap stethoscope. An expensive price tag does not always mean a better product.

JenieLou · Feb 2, 2006

Just my 2 cents.....I used a cheapie scope in nursing schoool After I graduated I moved up to a Littman Master Classic A few years after that when my tubing cracked and rotted from wearing it around my neck all the time, I finally bought a Master Cardiology scope. Didn't like it nearly as much as the less expensive model I used, it was too heavy& cumbersome. I am going to NP school now so I'll probably use it most of the time(I paid too much money for it to let it sit). My advice is find a scope that you are COMFORTABLE with, doesn't matter if it's cheap or expensive. Just find one you are comfortable with and can HEAR with! It's worthless if it doesn't do what it's supposed to......