Worth it to get electronic stethoscope as student?

[Neuroguy887]

Honestly I can't make out anything when I auscultate patients. It would be literally impossible for me to differentiate a murmur from a patients breath sounds (every patient sounds like they have a murmur when they breathe) and this is just compounded when a baby is crying or when there is noise in the room. The noise-cancelling stethoscope might be my only hope but I don't want attendings to dislike me because I have a nicer stethoscope than they do. Has anyone bought one and what kind of response has it gotten during rotations?

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[NickNaylor]

I actually asked my residents on IM what they would think if a student were to have one. I really like gadgets so I wanted to get one just to give it a whirl, but I obviously didn't want to spend $400 for a steth that I couldn't use due to people getting pissy for some asinine reason.

They had two objections. First, they had both tried an electronic steth and said that the sound quality sucks compared to an analogue steth. I'm not sure what specific models they tried, but this is something I've seen repeated on reviews for several electronic models so I'm guessing it's a legitimate concern. Some models are better than others, but I have yet yo see an electronic steth that was generally considered to be better than or even on par with a traditional steth. The second point was that they thought the risk of a student with an electronic steth being interpreted as "that guy" was high. They were both low-key residents that said that while they wouldn't care they definitely knew attrndings and other residents that would for whatever reason be irritated by that.

Take that for what you will. Maybe someone that has actually owned and used one for a while will chime in.

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[JJMrK]

I actually asked my residents on IM what they would think if a student were to have one. I really like gadgets so I wanted to get one just to give it a whirl, but I obviously didn't want to spend $400 for a steth that I couldn't use due to people getting pissy for some asinine reason.

They had two objections. First, they had both tried an electronic steth and said that the sound quality sucks compared to an analogue steth. I'm not sure what specific models they tried, but this is something I've seen repeated on reviews for several electronic models so I'm guessing it's a legitimate concern. Some models are better than others, but I have yet yo see an electronic steth that was generally considered to be better than or even on par with a traditional steth. The second point was that they thought the risk of a student with an electronic steth being interpreted as "that guy" was high. They were both low-key residents that said that while they wouldn't care they definitely knew attrndings and other residents that would for whatever reason be irritated by that.

Take that for what you will. Maybe someone that has actually owned and used one for a while will chime in.

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Not just high, you are "that guy" if you carry one of those around.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

I would just keep practicing with what you currently have--expensive, fancy equipment is unlikely to solve your problem. Also, no one can really hear heart sounds when a baby starts crying--that's why a lot of pediatricians listen to the heart at the very beginning of the exam before the baby starts crying.

 

[NickNaylor]

Not just high, you are "that guy" if you carry one of those around.

Just ridiculous though. I don't see how having an electronic steth makes you a tool other than someone is butthurt for some nonsensical reason.

I guess I don't see what the issue is if you're genuinely interested in trying it out other than people with inferiority complexes interpreting that as an attempt to be ostentatious. I'm sure there are people that do exactly that, but to assume that that happens is pretty weak IMO.

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[JJMrK]

Just ridiculous though. I don't see how having an electronic steth makes you a tool other than someone is butthurt for some nonsensical reason.

I guess I don't see what the issue is if you're genuinely interested in trying it out other than people with inferiority complexes interpreting that as an attempt to be ostentatious. I'm sure there are people that do exactly that, but to assume that that happens is pretty weak IMO.

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Eh. When you're an attending you can do whatever you want. Part of the game is not rocking the boat. Plus, let's be honest, there's really no reason you need one. It's kind of like a stethoscope holster.

 

[notbobtrustme]

no one can hear murmurs on their first shot. It's something that just takes practice (and practice and practice and practice.................)

 

[Flamen04]

My parents bought me one as a gift for getting into med school. I hate it. The sound quality sucks compared to a normal stethoscope. Don't bother wasting your money. If you want to get a fancy stethoscope, get a Cardio III instead.

 

[armybound]

I don't think you can use them on Step 2 CS.

I hear murmurs just fine with a Classic II SE. Get a Cardiology III if you're serious about it.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I've reached the point that my stethoscope is now in a closet or locker somewhere, and I can't even remember where. Given that I haven't even finished my residency, I'm glad I didn't spend more money on either a fancier one or an electronic one as a student.

The issue with recognizing murmurs isn't sound quality that will be fixed by a gadget. It's just a matter of numbers/experience and having a good teacher who can help conceptually translate what you're hearing.

 

[organdonor]

Just ridiculous though. I don't see how having an electronic steth makes you a tool other than someone is butthurt for some nonsensical reason.

I guess I don't see what the issue is if you're genuinely interested in trying it out other than people with inferiority complexes interpreting that as an attempt to be ostentatious. I'm sure there are people that do exactly that, but to assume that that happens is pretty weak IMO.

Yes but therein lies the problem; it doesn't matter whether or not you ARE a tool, it matters whether or not people THINK you are a tool. I would snicker at a fellow student with an electronic steth. But then I'd probably feel bad about it, so there's that.

It is always hard to listen to breath/heart sounds when you first start. Try listening to some youtube videos when you get the chance. Ideally you should be able to pick up the nearest stethoscope and listen to the patient. The nearest steth will NOT be electronic. I'm excepting the disposable steths for isolation patients; NOBODY can hear anything through those. I'm talking "Oh crap my steth was left at home/left in the car/stolen in the free clinic so now I need to borrow the nurse's steth for a minute."

 

[SurgeDO]

absolutely. be the guy with the custom engraved, electronic stethoscope. everybody loves that guy.

 

[rigid]

Get a quality littmann II or III and hit up the cardio or geris ward - find the patients with murmurs and listen, it might take you 20, 30, 40 patients but once you get it you are golden. If you are having trouble differentiating with breath sounds then ask the patient to hold their breath (if they are adult and can comply of course) and to minimise their suffering hold your breath at the same time and tell them to breath out when you do (you usually have to tell them to breath normally again otherwise most pt try to breath out and hold it to help you out)

 

[crispatela]

why not?

 

[crispatela]

Eh. When you're an attending you can do whatever you want. Part of the game is not rocking the boat. Plus, let's be honest, there's really no reason you need one. It's kind of like a stethoscope holster.

so true