Stethoscope questions

[Valcorie34, BSN, MSN, RN]

I have worked as a CNA for a long time and I take vitals manualy. I have a cheep stethoscope/BP cuff kit. I find that I can hear most BP's fine. Sometimes I run into very faint hard to hear ones.

I was accepted into Nursing school starting in Sept. Would a nice littman stethoscope be worth the investment? In your opinion is the sound quality that much better? I haven't used one so I wanted some opinions. What is a good quality one that wont break the bank and is it worth it for school? Granted I plan on using it long after school and on breaks as a CNA as well so it will be well used what ever it is.

[muirite]

I like the lower-priced to mid price ones. I think it's better to get great with a crappie stethoscope before buying a great one.

[Dreamlover]

I have used both cheap stethoscopes and Littmanns. I bought a Littmann Classic SE ll. I actually hear well with both the Littmann and sprauge. I bought a Littmann as a gift to myself for making it into nursing school.

[sailornurse]

I would wait until you start clinicals, you will see all types of stethoscopes & ask the nurses the cost/pros/cons. I taught health assessment for 5 years and recommend getting the spraque- type for beginners as you can change out the bell/diaphragm to make pedi scope. Don't get a cardiac scope until you need one. One of the best accoustically is the plastic type with no bell, I could hear heart/lung sounds in a very noisy ER.

[Valcorie34, BSN, MSN, RN]

Thank you! I like my spraque and have the bell/diaphram extras that came with it. I just worried it wouldn't work out as well. But it sounds like front he feed back, anyway that it would be ok.