Stethoscpe Advice appreciated!!

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

Just wondering what anyone would reccommend for a new RN student. I was trying the Littman II S.E today and seriously, I couldnt hear a thing!!! not even when I tapped on the bell part. I then picked up an Adscope steth. and it felt very nice and I was able to hear with it.

I was confused as I was told that Littman was the creme of the crop and Adscope was an "offbrand".. I even tried the next littman scope thats was still in the box , in case the display one was broke and I couldnt hear anyting out of that either...!!

Any advice on what to get or what u reccommend? Thanks for any replies!

:monkeydance:

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

If you can get to a store where you can try as many as possible. I ordered the Littman Select, which one of my fellow students had that I tried out, I can hear well with it but not a darn thing with the adscope that the ex bf's mom gave me. go figure.

There have been previous posts about this subject, surely one of the moderator's may link them to yours so you can gain some more insight. I just got mine and am not in clinicals yet so other than messing with it at home and doing BP's on family can't say how great it is but it does seem to work well for me.

good luck with your search!!

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Specializes in ICU, Mother/Baby.

The first time I tryed on a Littman I couldn't hear out of it either. I had them in wrong:uhoh3: I was told that Littman are different than other ones. The ear part should look like its going in wrong. I felt silly but how was I to know.

I have a Littman Classic II SE and I love it so far. It did take me a few times wearing and playing around with it to feel comfortable and hear stuff.

Good Luck :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

My first thought is that they may have been in backwards. I honestly think that they look like they go in wrong...so if you put them in how it looks right it's wrong.

So I would look into that.

I have a Littman Classic and a Littman Master Cardiology. I've happy with both but very glad I got the Master Cardiology because I've heard things on clinicals that other people could not pick up with their stethoscope.

I know some people say go cheap. I say go with something affordable for you remembering that the better it is for you the more you will learn because you will be able to hear more things.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

I think that there may have been a chance that I put them on backwards....lol. I guess I have to go back to the store and try them out (the right way, this time) !!!

thanks!:lol2:

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Specializes in Maternity, quality.

Yes, double-check to make sure you had the earpieces pointed the right way (they should point to the front of your head). Also the Littman II SEs have the diaphragm on one side and the bell on the other. You mentioned that you didn't hear anything when you tapped on the bell... it may be that the other side was "on". To switch from one to the other you actually have to twist the chestpiece part (you will feel it click).

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As the other said you might have them in wrong. Also even though they are supposedly the best, not everyone hears equally out of the same stethescope. I have a Littman Master Cariodolgy and wouldnt trade it for the world, my mom whose been a respiratory therapist for 30+ years uses a $40.00 double tubed Prestige and wouldnt trade it for the world. Best thing to do is just try any and all models that you are considering to buy to see which one fits you best.

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