stethoscopes??

heartICU · Jan 21, 2005

When I was an undergrad, I used a Littman Classic II SE, and it worked just fine. It was $50-70. I bought a new one after graduating from nursing school, the Littman Master Cardiology. This one was a little more pricy, usually runs around $150-200, but if you go to www.allheart.com, you can get them at a pretty good deal. As far as one being better than another, I am sure that the Master Cardiology offers more distinction between sounds, etc, and if I was specializing in cardiology, that may offer me some benefit. To be honest, one of the cheaper ones will work just fine. Don't get me wrong, I use my Master Cardiology in the OR all the time, and I love it, but on the days where I forget it at home, the cheap disposable ones the hospital provides also work just fine. Just a matter of personal preference, I guess.

Hi guys,
I am starting BSN school soon. I have another little annoying birthdays coming up and hubby is going to buy me a stethoscope, but there are a lot of choices out there. I really don't want to spend $50-70 now to get a mediocre one (for BSN) and then turn around in 2-3 years and spend big bucks on a nice one for CRNA school. So, what do you all recommend? Do you have any personal preferences?
and not to sound like a whiner, but the little cheap ones really hurt my ears.
Thanks,
lifeLONGstudent

NGACRNA · Jan 21, 2005

I used a Littman Cardiology II for years till I found the Ultrascope. $150 for both the pedi and adult heads, but you can honestly hear breath sounds through several layers of clothing or towells. One of my instructors had one. And you can pick the design

It's so good I wish I could buy the company.

http://www.ren-lor.on.ca/index2.htm

They're the company; $100 there, or...

Only $80 for a one-head,

http://www.standris.com/ultrascope.cfm

Fun2, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2005

I'm looking into buying a ADC ADSCOPE 655 Amplifying Stethoscope.

Has anyone used this? good/bad?

lifeLONGstudent · Jan 21, 2005

"It's so good I wish I could buy the company."

now that is an endorsement! Come on the rest of you -- what do you like (or dislike)?

gaspassah · Jan 21, 2005

well to me it's kinda like whatcha wanna do with it.

buying an expenive one for anesthesia school. most anesthetists i see use cheapy ones cause mainly youre trying to verify lung sounds. of course there are anesthetists that have really nice ones too.

at the bedside in icu, whether or not it's cardiac i feel it's important to hear subtleties.

imho, buy a good one learn to use it. ie differentiate different heart tones etc. it will eventualy make you a better clinician. if you ever work in an area where patients aren't worked up real well before surgery being able to detect s3 s4 could be important.

i use a lit master cardiology.

d

bigwavedave · Jan 21, 2005

When I read the original post re: good stethoscopes, I had to let out a good laugh. I went through nursing school w/ a dual head "Prestige" brand stethoscope... about $20 when I bought it new. There were others in school who had dropped the $75 to $150 for a Littman this or that and I have to admit I was a little jealous, but did not really see the need, until I listened w/one. So after graduation my in-laws bought me a Littman Master Cardiology II and I love it, relatively lightweight, great acoustics, and feels great in my ears. The ironic part of it is that once I started working in my ICU I looked around and most of the nurses have some form of higher end Littman, while the doctors use the $20 job, I have even seen one of them using one of the disposable steths. I guess my father-in-law was right, I got a better stethoscope than the doctors. Anyways, I love my Littman Master Cardiology II. Good luck in school lifeLongstudent.