We're told to buy cheap stethoscopes

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I'm a first semester nursing student we've been told by some random uniform lady to buy cheap stethoscopes. Then yesterday our lab instructor told us to spend around $80. I know there are hundreds of stethoscope threads out there, but is it worth buying a somewhat more expensive for better sound quality. What do you think the best deal is? Is $80 a good range? Any help is appreciated!

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Specializes in Home Health, Case Management, OR.

I have both a cheap stethoscope and I just purchased a Littman and there is a huge difference in sound quality! I can actually hear all the sounds in a noisy environment (such as lab)! I bought the Littman Classic II and it ran me around $60. Check your uniform supply stores because the one I went to offered students and medical professionals 10% off. Quality really pays off, it is worth every penny.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, IM, OB/GYN, neuro, GI.

It just depends on what your preference is. I can hear fine out of a cheap one and a good quality one but the more you pay ther more you can hear. If you can use a cheap stethescope without any problems and it's what you can afford but one but keep in mind when you're finished with school it would be a good investment to buy one in a higher price range. $80 is the average price for a low cost high quality stethescope. Like one of the previous posters said go to some of the uniform stores in your area most offer a discount for students. Also look online you can find sales on good quality stethescopes. If you do get one try and find one that has single tubing the double tubing can sometimes rub together and make is sound like something's there that isn't.

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In my opinion...

Don't bother with a cheap steth. You will pay $10 now and then fork out another $80 later when you realize that you can't hear anything. It'll hurt at first, nobody likes spending that kind of money but it is worth it. Learning to do BPs, listen to lung fields and cardiac sounds is an integral part of nursing, you might as well start off with a leg up. A littmann classic or similar is your best bet. It'll last you for years and will work great. Anything more (like a littman cardiology) is nice but a luxary. You don't need a $200 steth and the odds of it "walking" during clinical rises in proportion to its cost.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Like the others have said, the more you can afford now, the less you will spend later. Sounds like an odd addage, but it is true. I have had a $5 scope that was useless on anything but VS and peds assessments; a $15 sprague scope that I keep in the back of my car for a cheap backup (still only good for VS); a $30 ADC (littmann knockoff) that I used for about 1 1/2 years, but then the tubing cracked and became very stiff; a $40 and $60 Littmanns that are fantastic, but still wanted something a little more "audible for my taste"; and finally a $140 Littmann Cardiology III - The best I have tried so far. If I would have just bought the Cardiology scope to begin with, I could have saved myself soooo much money, but I never knew it until I bought it. (As you can see I spent about $290 when I could have just spend $140 and been satisfied.)

Take it from me, buy what you can hear best with now, and don't let it out of your sight, whether its cheap or expensive. I can do an assessment (now) with any of the scopes I have purchased, but if i want to make it easier on myself, i will pick up the cardiology scope any day.

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Specializes in critical care and LTC.

I would pay for a good one now. I used the cheap double tubed one in LPN school the ones that the uniform company had, I heard fine out of it but they weighed a ton! My mom n law bought me a littman lightweight for grad and I love it. When you have to listen with an instructor and hear what they hear its good to have the best stethoscope to keep up with those experienced ears! As an RN now I still see nurses with the stethoscopes they got in nursing school that feel like they are 10 pounds, my neck cant handle that.

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Too cheap of a steth (ie: drug store brands) can cause difficulty in hearing sounds. So just be careful and dont buy it "too" cheap. :)

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care (CEN, CCRN).

Your lab instructor is right. We tell our SNs never to cheap out on scopes - especially when you're first starting out and learning to auscultate, you won't be able to hear anything useful from a $15 "nurse's stethoscope." We recommend Littmann Classic Lightweight, Classic II SE or Master Classic; any of those will run you in the $50-$80 range. A few of my students have said good things about ADC, though I haven't used one personally.

If you're concerned about your stethoscope growing legs, spend the extra $10 and have it engraved. A nurse-midwife I worked with on my L&D rotation did this with her Cardiology III, with "PROPERTY OF (name), NOT YOU" lasered into the tubing. Amusing and effective theft deterrent.

Hope this helps!

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If you want name brand stethoscopes for a GREAT price go here http://www.stethoscopes-for-sale.comI also believe you stay away from CHEAP non brand scopes they have too many complications in my experience

and like others have said get a good one now you'll spend less later

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Thanks Everyone for the great input about Stethescopes. It really helped.

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