Littmann Cardio IV or Master Cardio?

[Jesus Christ]

Hey guys,

Just trying to determine which steth is going to support me the best through medical school and beyond. Let me know.

Thanks

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[Medic741]

Everyone has different opinions, but...

Cardio IV all the way. Has the bell/diaghragm, useful for peds and easier than changing pressure on a tunable diaghragm

 

[Jesus Christ]

After watching several YouTube reviews and hearing your opinion, I am definitely going to go with the Cardio IV. Thanks for the thoughts! You've been blessed.

 

[Durty-Trixxx]

Whatever you decide to get --- make sure it's not more fancy than something a cardiologist would have wrapped around his/her neck. Showing off like that as a med student just makes you look douchey.

 

[Jesus Christ]

Why the hell would a cardiologist have a worse stethoscope than a med student?

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Not to derail this, but what about the Cardio IV vs the classic III? Any recommendations?

 

[Durty-Trixxx]

Why the hell would a cardiologist have a worse stethoscope than a med student?

I've heard stories about med students purchasing very expensive stethoscopes --- even models fancier than many cardiologists would have. While this may seem like a virtuous effort by a med student to have the very best equipment for his/her education, it comes across as snooty and douchey on rounds. It's almost as if a lowly med student is trying to show up a seasoned cardiologist. Try to imagine Donnie Trump as a 3rd-year med student (impossible of course) walking into rounds one morning with his $10,000 gold-plated Littmann Ultra-Digital Cardio X model stethoscope, while the cardiology attending is merely sporting a Cardio 3 that costs 1/20th as much. I think you can see how awkward this would be.

 

[DrRedstone]

I have a Littmann SE II and I am getting by just fine.

 

[Medic741]

Not to derail this, but what about the Cardio IV vs the classic III? Any recommendations?

Id still stick with the 4, imo it’s the best to hear with in loud environments.

Worked as a paramedic for a while and from getting stethoscopes stolen by meth heads to getting closed in car doors have gone through a few (thank goodness for good employers!) and think the 4 is the best for hearing with ambient noise present, the 3 isn’t quite as good for that imo, and even background conversations can be hard to listen through if there are a bunch of them going on at once. The 4 is a great tool...

And to keep track of your stethoscope... Highly recommend buying a cheap Bluetooth tracking device and using a black zip tie to connect the tracker to your stethoscope at the base of the triangle made by the tubing. Makes it easy to find again and a stethoscope with your name on it AND a tracking device is much more likely to be returned to you than a stethoscope with just your name on it 😵

 

[RNthenDoc]

Half the patients have MRSA and thus cheapo toy stethoscopes anyway. 😉

Pulm/crit doctors will ALWAYS steal your scopes. Wotcher, friends! 😉

 

[el_duderino]

There is minimal difference between stethoscopes in terms of performance. My Classic II does't sound much better than the disposables. The Cardio stethoscopes are heavier and bulkier. If I lose my Classic, I'm just going to replace it with a Lightweight.

 

[Ho0v-man]

As someone about to finish first year, i can tell you guys that ive used my stethoscope less than an hour combined over the past 10 months. It really doesnt matter so just get the bare minimum.

 

[RNthenDoc]

Just got an email from my school warning M1s to buy a cheap stethoscope.

Basically they said in your career you’ll own many, and for a “first” we should be putting our money towards other things.

I already have a couple classics laying around that I’ll use, but I liked the sentiment.

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Lol stethoscope in med school.

 

[el_duderino]

Lol stethoscope in med school.

So do you just borrow someone else's whenever you see patients or SPs, or does your school simply not have you interact with patients before handing you an MD?

 

[Dagrimsta1]

So do you just borrow someone else's whenever you see patients or SPs, or does your school simply not have you interact with patients before handing you an MD?

The truth is, if you wanted to you can EASILY get by borrowing a friends scope for the SP and all other activities for the first 2 years. I’m not against buying a scope but considering how little you actually use it, go with a Littman classic 2.

 

[wannabedoc2000]

My mentors have told me that you should get a simple one early in med school so you can practice learning with lower quality equipment. Then, once youve learned how to diagnose with lower quality, you can upgrade. But if you start off super fancy and end up somewhere 1 day with low quality equipment, you could have some trouble...

 

[el_duderino]

The truth is, if you wanted to you can EASILY get by borrowing a friends scope for the SP and all other activities for the first 2 years. I’m not against buying a scope but considering how little you actually use it, go with a Littman classic 2.

And that's only half of medical school. Borrowing friends' stethoscopes repeatedly doesn't really get you anywhere, because you still have to buy one anyway. Might as well get one early on and avoid sharing earplugs with classmates.