Which Do You Prefer???

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hello all,

i am a new grad starting orientation in 2 weeks in a busy (90,000 visits) er. i have been using a prestige double tube stethoscope for 2 years during nursing school. i am aware that many medical professionals use littmann stethoscopes. although they are pricy, i have no problem purchasing one if necessary. do you think that i should invest in a littmann or is the prestige sufficient enough for the er? also, which do you prefer to use as an er nurse, single tube or double tube stethoscope?

any advice is appreciated!!!!:bow:

thank you in advance,

cherry

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hello all,

i am a new grad starting orientation in 2 weeks in a busy (90,000 visits) er. i have been using a prestige double tube stethoscope for 2 years during nursing school. i am aware that many medical professionals use littmann stethoscopes. although they are pricy, i have no problem purchasing one if necessary. do you think that i should invest in a littmann or is the prestige sufficient enough for the er? also, which do you prefer to use as an er nurse, single tube or double tube stethoscope?

any advice is appreciated!!!!:bow:

thank you in advance,

cherry

i think if you can hear out of the one you have....use it.....i think a good pair of shoes is more important...lol

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Specializes in Adult Cardiac surgical.
I think if you can hear out of the one you have....use it.....I think a good pair of shoes is more important...lol

Ditto!

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TraumaNurseRN,

Which brand of shoes do you recommend?

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

My issue back when I carried a double-lumen steth was weight...just felt much heavier than my current Littmann...I agree with the previous poster though...if you can hear yours is fine.

Shoes, of course most people at my work either wear Crocs or Dansko's, I just change my shoes daily, it helps. I would recommend going to a fancy shoe store and have them analyze the way you walk (some even take a molding of your foot). They will recommend a certain brand because all brands have their characteristics.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

Stick with a steth that you don't care about leaving on the desk when you leave for the night and are coming back the next day. I use a $20 no-name brand from the local uniform shop. I put my nice, shiny nursing school Litman II ultra-lite down on a desk top and it got sucked into the vortex.

I have three pairs of dansko professional style clogs (they have a back to protect my heel).

Rough night tonight. I'm wondering why I didn't stick with that math major.

Blee

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Specializes in peds and med/surg.
TraumaNurseRN,

Which brand of shoes do you recommend?

Everyone's feet are different. I like Nike Air and New Balance. Oh and I put a Dr Scholl's heel pad inside. Until I did that, I felt my heels were taking a beating. Oh, and I strongly recommend monthly pedicures!!!

Angel

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Specializes in ED, Flight.

I can tell you as a field medic I've seen some good assessments done in rough places with some pretty basic tools, including cheap stethoscopes. The skill is even more important than the 'scope.

I say start with something not too expensive that you like. At some point when you're due for a present, you can reconsider.

I used a Litmann Classic II for years very happily. When I was due for another present, I treated myself to a Litmann Cardiac which I really like. Having the smaller Pedi head on the same scope is a nice convenience, as I used to carry two scopes around.

I prefer single lumen with a thick wall because my work outside is in noisy and vibrating environments. I suspect in the ER it makes little difference. Two of the best docs I've known often used pretty basic 'scopes. One of our present docs just uses whatever the present nurse has around his/her neck. :rolleyes:

Welcome to the ER! :up:

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Thank You everyone for being so helpful. I had my eye on a Ultrascope as a present to myself :) but after reading all the replies I think I will save my money and get an extra pair of shoes. I bought a pair in June that I wore to pinning, hopefully my feet wont fail me after my first few 7p-7a shifts...

Cherry

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Specializes in ER.

If you buy an expensive stethescope, plan on having it stolen.

I lost two Littman Cardiacs and a Classic II before I decided I could hear just as well out of a modest ($22) single tube stethescope. I also bought an ugly green color, and despite leaving it lying around the unit, it NEVER gets stolen.

Get the longest length tube you can. Some people you don't want to have lean in too close on.

Buying good shoes is a much better investment, as other posters have mentioned. I swear by SKS leather sneakers, which are about $100/pair, but hold up and CLEAN UP well.

Good luck. As an ER nurse you'll ALWAYS have interesting stories to tell people. Count on it.

:heartbeat

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.
Thank You everyone for being so helpful. I had my eye on a Ultrascope as a present to myself :) but after reading all the replies I think I will save my money and get an extra pair of shoes. I bought a pair in June that I wore to pinning, hopefully my feet wont fail me after my first few 7p-7a shifts...

Cherry

My sister bought me an Ultrascope last year for my birthday, personalized and everything. I love it. Not only does it look good, I can hear everything.

As for shoes, I bought some Rykas on sale at Herberger's for 50 bucks and my feet have never felt so good, and I am a 270 pound ER nurse!

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