If you’re a nursing student who’s going through internship and practical training, one of the things you need to have with you at all times is a stethoscope. Nurses are commonly responsible for checking and recording patients’ vital signs on a frequent and regular basis. Because the stethoscope is necessary for measuring several of these signs, a nursing student should always have one in tote.
There are many kinds of stethoscopes available on the market today, giving you several options when buying your own, but because there are certain specifics you should look for in your nursing stethoscope, it can be a challenge to choose.
Make sure that you get nothing but accurate measures with the best stethoscope for nursing students by following this buying guide.
Top 10 Stethoscopes for Nursing Students Chart
| Picture | Name | Tube Length | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. 3M Littmann Classic III Stethoscope | 27 inches | $$$$ | 4.7 |
 | 2. MDF MD One Stainless Steel Premium Dual Head Stethoscope | 25 inches | $$$ | 4.5 |
 | 3. ADC ADSCOPE 615 Platinum Professional Clinician Stethoscope | 22 inches | $$$ | 4.3 |
 | 4. MDF Acoustica Deluxe Lightweight Dual Head Stethoscope | 22 inches | $$ | 4.3 |
 | 5. EMI Sprague Rappaport Stethoscope Sea Frost | 22 inches | $$ | 4.2 |
 | 6. Omron Sprague Rappaport Stethoscope | 22 inches | $$ | 4.1 |
 | 7. Grafco 400P Dual Head Stethoscope | 22 inches | $ | 4.0 |
 | 8. Prestige Medical Clinical Lite Stethoscope | 22 inches | $$ | 3.9 |
 | 9. Everdixie USA Dual Head Stethoscope | 22 inches | $ | 3.6 |
 | 10. Primacare DS-9290-BK Classic Series Adult Dual-Head Stethoscope | 22 inches | $ | 3.4 |
Buying Information for Nursing Students
Before you grab the first stethoscope you see, make sure it’s something that’s ideal for use as a nurse. There are several considerations that need to be made before making a purchase. These will help make sure that the instrument you’ve chosen will work best for the kind of duties you’ll be doing as a nurse.
- All Purpose, General Use. The many different functions, aspects, and conditions of the body have prompted the development of multiple specializations. Because different health professionals look into different signs and symptoms, medical tools have been altered to help specific duties.
- For instance, a cardiologist may need a more powerful stethoscope to hear all four heart sounds, but because nurses are only required to track and record the first two heart sounds, a general use stethoscope should be sufficient. Settling for something too powerful could cause inconsistencies with records, especially if you’re a student who has only been taught to identify two heart sounds.
- Another thing to consider is that sometimes, you will be asked to listen to body sounds other than those produced by the heart. That’s why the best stethoscope for nursing students is the one that can be used for many different functions.
- Durability. Whether you’re a nursing student or a registered nurse, you should expect to use your stethoscope multiple times in a day. Therefore, it’s only natural that your stethoscope will experience some wear and tear over time. Buying a durable stethoscope that will last for several years won’t only prove to be a worthy investment, but will also prevent your trusty tool from giving up on you while you’re on duty.
- Availability of Replacement Parts. Lots of stethoscopes these days can be brought back to mint condition with replacement parts. Things like tubing, ear pieces, and even diaphragms can be purchased as separate pieces to bring a damaged stethoscope up to code. If you’re planning on using your stethoscope well into the years, you should consider choosing one that can be fitted with replacement parts.
Top 3 Best Stethoscope for Nursing Students Reviews
1. 3M Littmann Classic III Stethoscope
The best stethoscope for nursing students has to be the 3M Littmann Classic III Stethoscope. Practically synonymous with stethoscopes, the Litmann brand manufactures some of the best stethoscope designs, guaranteed to provide accurate measurements and unparalleled durability.
The Classic III is among the latest designs released by Littmann, featuring reinforced tubing that ensures resistance to stains, wear, and tear. With better acoustic performance compared to competitors in the market, the Littmann Classic III allows clear and definitive listening even for the slightest of sounds.
While all this makes the Classic III a worthy top contender, that’s not the best part. The magic truly lies at the chest piece. The Classic III features a tunable chest piece, making it easy achieve the desired acoustic so you can get clear sounds. All in all, the 3M Littmann Classic II Stethoscope combines performance, durability, and style, making it a reasonable purchase even at the steep price.
2. MDF MD Dual Head Stethoscope
The MDF MD One Stainless Steel Premium Dual Head Stethoscope is another worthy pick if you’re looking for something that will really give you value for your money. These stethoscopes are built to last, able to withstand years of wear and tear without showing signs of use.
The MD One is designed for superior audio output, muting out ambient noises and highlighting internal body sounds to give you a clear and definitive listen. What makes the stethoscope even more appealing is the fact that the company offers a Free Parts for Life Program. That means if you buy an authentic MDF product, you can get replacement parts for your stethoscope free for a lifetime.
3. ADC ADSCOPE 615 Stethoscope
Ranked as the third best stethoscope for students taking up nursing, the ADC ADSCOPE 615 Platinum Professional Clinician Stethoscope with AFD Technology is a straightforward product that does what it should. This stethoscope features an ovoid-shaped chest piece, able to pick-up on subtler sounds with its increased surface area.
However, unlike the previous two options, this stethoscope has a single surface chest piece. While this does eliminate potential wear and tear caused by switching between low and high frequency diaphragms, it also makes the product harder to fine-tune.
For instance, if you’re listening to low frequency sounds, placing minimal pressure on the surface of the skin should be good enough to pick up on the right sounds. For high frequency, pressing harder will provide a clearer audio, but because nursing students may not have enough experience, finding the right level of pressure can prove to be a challenge.