Stethoscopes come in a variety of price ranges and brand names. You first need to decide what you're going to be listening to, cardiac or lung sounds? Or both. If your're a nurse or nursing student, you're going to listen to both...a lot!! If you're short on cash as a nursing student, purchasing a less expensive model will get you through school just fine. However, if you can, purchase a good stethoscope as you will use this same one for many years in your career. In my 35+ years of nursing, I had a total of 3 stethscopes in all. The important thing is don't lose it. Don't ever leave it at the nurses station or in a patient's room, I guarantee you, it will walk away in someone's hand. Some medical student will invariably borrow it and leave the unit...without realizing it's around his/her neck and never remember where it came from. Gone. Get in the habit as a student nurse to always wear it around your neck. Always. Even to the cafeteria. You will always know where it is and soon it will become a part of you during your entire shift. Here is a great video on choosing a stethoscope:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeG-fSowwMc
Points to remember:
Stethscope should have soft, comfortable ear tips
Avoid plastic bells, these are disposable and you can't hear well with them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeG-fSowwMc
Points to remember:
Stethscope should have soft, comfortable ear tips
Avoid plastic bells, these are disposable and you can't hear well with them.
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