Stethoscope/clinical supplies

[msbossb]

Hello fellow nursing students and nurses!

Just wondering what kind of stethoscope did u buy or plan to buy for nursing school?

When I went to school for medical assisting, I used the cheap one the school provided from prestige medical. It was very heavy and I thought the sound quality was ok....until I purchased the littman lightweight! Omg the difference there is very noticeable. Can't believe I went so long without a littman. The sound quality is very impeccable, and let's not forget the weight of it. Much better than having that heavy, double tubing one hang around my neck all day.

I'd say I made a very good choice in getting the littman. Also I was able to get it in my favorite color (lilac/light purple), I love every shade of purple and was also able to have my first and last name engraved on it.

What kind of stethoscope/ clinical supplies did you guys use or plan on using?

[blah_blah_blah]

I got a Littmann Cardiology III, the all black edition. I also got a cheap BP cuff that came with one of those cheap double-tubed scopes. That thing weighed a ton. I kept that in my clinical bag in case someone forgot theirs I'd lend them that one. I've prevented a couple people from getting sent home for being unprepared and marked absent and losing points with that ugly purple thing

We weren't allowed to carry our scopes around our necks. The school told us it was an infection control issue so we had to carry them in our pockets. Not to mention (as a PP stated) your skin oils damage the tubing anyway. And I don't want to replace a $200 scope before I have to.

As for supplies, I bought all the crap they told us to. Bandage scissors, hemostats, penlights, and I never used any of it except for the pen light.

I suggest getting a tube of really good hand lotion to use after clinicals. They will be so dry and cracked by the end of the day you'll be happy you have it. I suggest this one :

Amazon.com : Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Original, 2 Ounce : Beauty

It's expensive for the price, but you only need a tiny bit. It has the appearance and consistency of petroleum jelly, but it won't make your hands greasy if you use the right amount. I found mine at a grocery store but I'm sure they have it at target and walmart.

[Golfer87]

Yes. Also MRSA risk among others. Probably a habit inherited from doctors who don't like lab coats.

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

Littmann all the way!!!

Throughout school in the 2010s I used my dad's Littmann from when we went to med school!! In the 80s!! At 30 years old, that scope still sounds better than a lot of my friends' junky $20 scopes. To be fair, my dad went into a specialty where he never touched his scope after residency. But still. If that isn't quality and value, then I don't know what is. Now I use an itty-bitty neonatal Littmann.

Sorry to shout, but I just get so excited to spread the Littmann gospel!

Also, I love my White Coat Clipboard. Pricey, but an amazing reference for a new nurse, and folds up to fit in your scrub pocket.

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

I'd say I made a very good choice in getting the littman. Also I was able to get it in my favorite color (lilac/light purple), I love every shade of purple and was also able to have my first and last name engraved on it.

As an addendum to my above post: You can get a White Coat Clipboard in purple with your name engraved to match your lovely Littmann

And you can get them for different specialties, too (peds, anaesthesia, women's health)

[rob4546, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I got the Littmann Lightweight II S.E. in Ciel Blue ( which is the same color as my scrubs for nursings school). So far they are amazing and I can't see myself using any other kind of stethoscope. I haven't had to buy any other medical supplies yet, will probably have to do that this fall when my clinical rotations are in the hospital.

Purchased this exact one for nursing school and promised that I would get the cardiology III after graduation. Been working for over a year now and still use my lightweight, serves me well. Will upgrade sometime later but no need to right now.

[msbossb]

As an addendum to my above post: You can get a White Coat Clipboard in purple with your name engraved to match your lovely Littmann

And you can get them for different specialties, too (peds, anaesthesia, women's health)

Wow that's awesome... I'm definitely going to look that up. It would be awesome to have my name engraved or printed on most of the things I use throughout school and career. Reduces the risk of theft.... Now if only I could keep up with me pens! 😒

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

The white coat clip board was already on my list of things I want for Fall term!! Pink! Engraved! Yes!! I love nursing gadgets!!!😀😀

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Im not in school anymore. I don't have my own stethoscope for work. Each patient has their own. Most of them are Littman's. Some are not (I'm not sure what they are), but I don't really hear any difference.

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

I got a Littmann (7 years ago when I started clinicals - holy cow!). I still have it. I work in the OR, and except for some really rare occasions I don't need to use a stethoscope. For clinicals and then when I worked neuro stepdown it was amazing. For me - working in neuro, my penlight was completely an essential, I went through those and their batteries kind of quickly. q2 neuro checks on 3-4 of my 5-6 patients means a lot of use, plus it's a good flashlight to check an IV site, tubing and pump when it's beeping at 3am and you don't want to turn the room lights on...

I have to second what others said - please be careful with neck wearing - that will damage your stethoscope's tubing. Also it is an infection control issue. It's also - even though my stethoscope was lightweight, the weight around my neck did cause some tension headaches when I tried it (I'm really sensitive to that kind of thing though, so there is that too).

[ace003]

Is there a difference between a Littman and no name brand stethoscope when it comes to auscultating? Could you hear more/better with a Littman?

[SeattleJess]

Wearing your stethoscope around your neck will damage the tubing. The oils in your skin cause the tubing to harden and eventually crack necessitating repair/replacement long before you should need to.

Yes, but it looks so cool, just like on TV!

Several of my classmates bought "holsters" for their stethoscopes. Amazon.com: Prestige Medical Stethoscope Holder, Black: Health & Personal Care

I notice that Allhearts is selling a solution that is supposed to counteract the damage that skin oils do to tubing. Has anyone tried that?

I splurged after using the least expensive scopes through NAC class and the first year of nursing school to get a Littman electronic stethoscope and I really like that.

[Awesomocity0]

Wearing your stethoscope around your neck will damage the tubing. The oils in your skin cause the tubing to harden and eventually crack necessitating repair/replacement long before you should need to.

You know that they have covers for them, right? They're slinky fabric things. I don't bother with that though. My stethoscope goes around my neck. Has for two years now. No damage yet to my Master Cardiology. Is still fabulous.

In school, I had a Littmann Classic II, which I also wore around my neck for two years. No damage to that either.

But then again, I did and still do wipe down my stethoscope pretty regularly.

For anyone who says they can't hear the difference, you might not be using them correctly. My Master Cardiology, for example, picks up low or high sounds depending on how firmly I press. I've compared between my Littmanns, and the difference is incredible. I also compared between the crappy school issued one and my Littmann, and holy crap is that a difference as well.

IMO, it's better to invest in a Littmann now, so you can hear the difference in sounds now, while you have someone to tell you what it is you're hearing. I got my Master Cardiology as a grad gift but bought the Classic II on my own.