What type of stethoscope should I buy?

Published

I'm a cardiovascular technology student, and I'd like to know what type of stethoscope I should buy for clinicals. I'll be dealing with cardiac patients (obviously), so I'm considering the Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200. Any experience with this model?

Thanks,

Doug

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.

I have the littman cardiology stethescope and really love it. I looked at the electronic one and just did not find it was much better considering on how high the price was. Most of our cardiologist have the littman cardiology and I really do love it. It was an upgrade after having a basic littman for over ten years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have the littman cardiology stethescope and really love it. I looked at the electronic one and just did not find it was much better considering on how high the price was. Most of our cardiologist have the littman cardiology and I really do love it. It was an upgrade after having a basic littman for over ten years.

How much does it cost, $500?

I'd need an electronic one b/c my ears get distracted by outside noises.

I basically need one for detecting heart murmurs and lung sounds, so I can perform a brief H & P on my patients before I perform the echocardiogram. The presence of wet rales can seriously impact a cardiac patient's E & M, and lend credence to a finding of increased left atrial pressure, meaning that it's so high as to cause the pulmonary capillaries to leak from increased hydrostatic pressure. Which generally means the patient either needs to be put on Lasix, or their dose needs to be upped.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i work on tele, i have a littman classic that is coming up on it's 8th birthday and i can hear murmurs and lung sounds just fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i work on tele, i have a littman classic that is coming up on it's 8th birthday and i can hear murmurs and lung sounds just fine.

Well, I can't use my Mom's, which is over 20 years old, hot pink (I am NOT running around the hospital wearing that!), and falling apart (the tube is nearly corroded).

I'll probably also get a chance to work on telemetry, b/c my program director says EKG techs (for the first two semesters, we're working towards our EKG technician certification and learning cardiovascular pathophysiology and pharmacology as well; the next two semesters we start ECHO training. At the end, we earn our AS in Cardiovascular Technology and become registry-eligible). What's it like? Is it 90% boredom, 10% sheer terror?

By your picture, do you work in CA, FL, or Hawaii? I'll be working in CA, hopefully at LB Memorial Heart and Vascular Institute.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.

I ended up paying 130.00 for mine it was on sale from 180.00. It is very delicate and you can actually hear the blood flowing through the valves! If someone is talking when I have it in my ears I do not hear them or the tv or whatever. The electronic one was running 450.00 from orig 500.00. Too much for me and i really did not notice much of a difference.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
Well, I can't use my Mom's, which is over 20 years old, hot pink (I am NOT running around the hospital wearing that!), and falling apart (the tube is nearly corroded).

I'll probably also get a chance to work on telemetry, b/c my program director says EKG techs (for the first two semesters, we're working towards our EKG technician certification and learning cardiovascular pathophysiology and pharmacology as well; the next two semesters we start ECHO training. At the end, we earn our AS in Cardiovascular Technology and become registry-eligible). What's it like? Is it 90% boredom, 10% sheer terror?

By your picture, do you work in CA, FL, or Hawaii? I'll be working in CA, hopefully at LB Memorial Heart and Vascular Institute.

i work in FL.

working on telemetry is always busy, always something different, always thinking, never a dull moment...

anyways, the littman classic cost me like $70, and it's worked so well for me for many years.. and i am very hard of hearing in one ear. good luck in your classes :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i work in FL.

working on telemetry is always busy, always something different, always thinking, never a dull moment...

anyways, the littman classic cost me like $70, and it's worked so well for me for many years.. and i am very hard of hearing in one ear. good luck in your classes :)

What's an average day like? Are Swan-Ganz catheter pts on telemetry?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion