Will be new to USA/Rehab - need advice on Stethoscope

Fiona59 · Mar 11, 2005

Just want to ask -- How do you perform a physical assessment without listening to the patients lungs or bowel sounds??? Or do you just have one that everybody shares on the unit?

But back to your question-- Littman's are nice (around $100), different styles, so its pretty much your choice. There are cheaper ones that work just as well (start around $14). Try them out.

suehp · Mar 11, 2005

Just want to ask -- How do you perform a physical assessment without listening to the patients lungs or bowel sounds??? Or do you just have one that everybody shares on the unit?

We dont listen to bowels/lung sounds where I work (nursing Home) unless it is prior to PEG or NG feed of course and then we use the stethoscope that belongs to the home...as I say in the Uk it hasnt been part of the nurses's role to do this in a nursing home especially....It was never part of our training here...

But back to your question-- Littman's are nice (around $100), different styles, so its pretty much your choice. There are cheaper ones that work just as well (start around $14). Try them out.

Thanks, will look out for Littman's ( I have been told that name before)...I saw for one for $50 and just wondered whether the cheaper ones were just as good as the more expensive ones.....

Fiona59 · Mar 11, 2005

Don't want to start a war or anything, but I think you will have to brush up on those assessment skills in order to work over here. I've worked as an LPN (your old SEN) in Nursing homes in Canada and we are required to be able to do a complete chest assessment as well as bowel sound. Sub-Acute, Rehab units and Acute care all require their nurses to be able to do this.

So, get that stethescope and start listening to everybodies (young, old, healthy, asthmatic) chests...

suehp · Mar 12, 2005

Don't want to start a war or anything, but I think you will have to brush up on those assessment skills in order to work over here. I've worked as an LPN (your old SEN) in Nursing homes in Canada and we are required to be able to do a complete chest assessment as well as bowel sound. Sub-Acute, Rehab units and Acute care all require their nurses to be able to do this.
So, get that stethescope and start listening to everybodies (young, old, healthy, asthmatic) chests...

I have already started doing this and have a few CDRoms to help me identify different sounds too - I am more concerned about getting the lung sounds right ...

suzanne4, RN · Mar 12, 2005

I can send you via e-mail a bunch of breath sounds and heart tones to listen to. I personally use a cheap stethescope, so don't get hung up on name, etc. They have a tendency to grow legs on their own.

Where I am now, the hospital actually provides a stethescope at each bedside to cut down on transmission of infection...............disposable ones, and they are just fine.

Remember, where you will be working, you are not trying to differentaite between two tyoes of murmurs, etc..............just keep it simple. :)

suehp · Mar 12, 2005

I can send you via e-mail a bunch of breath sounds and heart tones to listen to. I personally use a cheap stethescope, so don't get hung up on name, etc. They have a tendency to grow legs on their own.
Where I am now, the hospital actually provides a stethescope at each bedside to cut down on transmission of infection...............disposable ones, and they are just fine.
Remember, where you will be working, you are not trying to differentaite between two tyoes of murmurs, etc..............just keep it simple. :)

Thanks Suzanne - I would appreciate that very much...I am also trying to make sure I brush up on my knowledge on certain things...

I am quite anxious what with moving my family to the USA and starting a new life and then starting a new job too. I have only had 2 jobs since I qualified in 1989, one was stroke Rehab for almost 4 yrs and the 2nd is where I am now as Manager of a Nursign Home...my lack of hospital experience is bothering me more than it is bothering the hospital but I do have the enthusiasm to learn and develope myself and be an asset to the team - I just dont want to let anyone down when I start there if you know what I mean!!

KrankenschwesterFL · Dec 30, 2005

Hello, I was just looking for a stethoscope myself and came across your link. I'm not sure if you are in the states yet and how you guys are trained in the UK, but in Germany we don't learn assessment at all, i had to learn all this just a year ago and it's really not too bad.

suehp · Jan 3, 2006

Hello, I was just looking for a stethoscope myself and came across your link. I'm not sure if you are in the states yet and how you guys are trained in the UK, but in Germany we don't learn assessment at all, i had to learn all this just a year ago and it's really not too bad.

I have been in the USA for 2 months and got my Littmann's stethoscope. I regularly do assessments and listen to lung sounds but as I am on a rehab unit i usually only get clear lung sounds or the occassional wheeze so really have had nothing more to report than that...gettin used to it all now!:wink2:

IdahoNurse · Jan 26, 2006

I work alot of rehab and have a Littman Lite. Works great for rehab. Get a good sound, not too expense (only about $39)... Do your CDs and you will pick on things. Don't be afraid to ask someone, like the charge nurse, for a second opinion!

suehp · Jan 28, 2006

thanks I got a littmann in the end and it is fine for me:wink2: