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Best Stethoscope for Medical Students: One of the necessary tools you need to survive and thrive in med school is a stethoscope. It will probably be required from your first or second year so choosing the right one early on is vital.
As always, I’m here to help you out!
In this article, I’m going to give you the 5 best stethoscopes for medical students that you can consider using. But first, let’s hit some of the FAQs on how to choose a stethoscope below
How To Choose A Stethoscope For Medical Students?
Like any purchases you make, there are some things to consider when buying a stethoscope. Here are some of the most important ones for me!
Quality
A quality stethoscope is usually one made of stainless steel for excellent acoustic performance, sound quality and resistance to bacteria.
Preferably, its earpieces are made of silicone and not plastic, and has a good noise-canceling feature.
This noise canceling function is huge when you’re in a loud hospital room listening for a murmur or faint lung sounds.
Trust me – don’t skip out on the quality! You’re going to have this stethoscope for years and want it to be a tool and not just a discount hardware.
Durability
The durability of the stethoscope is just as important as its quality. You don’t want to always send it for repairs or replacements, do you?
If you have the budget, find one with premium components. With the right care, you can even take a well-invested stethoscope in your future hospitals or clinics after graduating.
Otherwise, opt for a budget-friendly option that’s still durable, flexible, has a chest piece that isn’t too heavy, a tube that’s not too short or too long, and has a warranty to back it up.
Most importantly, take care of your stethoscope so it can live up to its maximum life span.
Price
While price does not necessarily equate to quality, do not immediately resort to the cheapest or the most expensive stethoscope!
Weigh your options and go for the most cost-efficient one. That is; a stethoscope with good quality that serves your current need as a medical student and can last for years without you breaking the bank.
If you happen to be a medical student with a cheaper version, that’s okay. Maybe you received it as a gift or just didn’t have the money.
I’d still recommend saving up for a higher quality one before beginning your clinical rotations. You’ll need it more then to better hear heart and lung sounds.
So, let’s get into the reviews!
3M Littmann Cardiology IV Diagnostic Stethoscope
Among the current favorites of medical practitioners and students in Littmanns’ line of stethoscopes is the 3M Littman Cardiology IV.
If you plan to work in the ER, cardiology or critical care field, this is probably one of the best options for you!
The device is designed so you can hear the very subtle changes in the patient’s cardiovascular system even when the environment is full of noise and distractions.
It is made of a dual-sided stainless steel diaphragm which is tunable so you can hear different frequencies of sounds without re-positioning the chestpiece.
Its high-end dual lumen tube design also helps isolate the sounds better and remove unnecessary noise.
As compared to Classic III, Cardio IV’s chestpiece is 40% larger and its bell is 60% deeper making it better in external noise reduction and in isolating low-frequency sounds.
Pros:
- Best for critical care field and challenging environments
- Tunable double-sided stainless steel chestpiece
- High-quality dual-lumen tubing
Cons:
- It is very expensive
ADC Adscope 600 Platinum Series Cardiology Stethoscope
Another top-quality cardiology stethoscope is ADC Adscope 600. Not the most affordable one, but I’d say it’s worth a try!
This stethoscope features an adjustable frequency design for enhanced acoustic performance.
Like all of our top 5 stethoscopes for medical students, it has a machined surgical stainless steel chestpiece and a high-performing headset with aluminum binaural and silicone ear tips.
With the features mentioned above, you can ensure an acoustic precision while benefiting from a comfortable wear.
The best part? Your purchase comes with complimentary diaphragms, ear tips, scope ID tags, and a lifetime warranty!
Pros:
- High-performance stainless steel cardiology stethoscope
- Adjustable frequency design
- Aluminum binaural and silicone ear tips
Cons:
- A bit too pricy for its class
3M Littmann Classic III Monitoring Stethoscope
If you ask other medical practitioners for a recommendation, they’ll most likely say Littmann Classic III. True enough, it’s a worthy investment for students in a non-critical care environment.
Here’s what I mean:
Littmann Classic III is designed with a dual-sided chestpiece made of stainless steel for both adult and pediatric assessments. You can even convert the pediatric chestpiece into the traditional open bell if you want better sound specificity.
And just like most Littmann stethoscopes, you can easily change the frequency of sound by applying pressure on the tunable diaphragms.
Every component of the stethoscope is free of latex/phthalate plasticizers so you don’t have to worry about your patients’ allergic sensitivities or any environmental hazard it may cause.
In terms of maintenance, the stethoscope has a detachable diaphragm for easy cleaning and an oil and stain-resistant tubing.
The affordable pricing of this stethoscope makes it an ideal choice for med students.
Pros:
- Dual-sided chestpiece for both adult and pediatric patients
- High-acoustic sensitivity perfect for general physical assessments
- Non-latex tubing that’s easy to clean and maintain
Cons:
- Not the best choice for critical care assessments
3M Littmann Lightweight II S.E. Stethoscope
If you are on a tight budget, but want a stethoscope from a well-known brand that does the job, then try out Littmann Lightweight II.
Its dual-sided chestpiece is designed to provide solid acoustic performance for both pediatric and adult care assessments despite the lower cost.
You can also tune the diaphragm when listening for low and high-frequency sounds by simply applying pressure change on it. With its tear-drop shape, you can easily fit it on the patient’s cuff for accurate blood pressure readings.
To cater to pediatric assessments, this stethoscope is designed with a non-chill rim and latex-free tubing for comfort and allergy prevention.
With it, you can take blood pressure readings as well as other physical assessments.
Pros:
- Tunable diaphragm with a tear-drop shape to fit blood pressure cuff
- Latex-free to prevent allergic reactions
- Has a non-chill rim and diaphragm and a flexible tubing
Cons:
- Limited physical assessments
- The materials are not as superior as other models
ADC Adscope 603 Clinician Stethoscope
First, it features an adjustable frequency design for enhanced acoustic performance and a stainless steel chestpiece with extra-large bell for precision and crisper transmission.
Its non-chill diaphragm and rims and silicone ear tips for the comfort of both patient and practitioner.
Free consumables and a lifetime warranty also come with the purchase.
It’s totally within the budget of an entry-level med student as it only cost $36 at the time of writing.
Pros
- CNC machined stainless steel chestpiece
- Extra-large and non-chill bell and diaphragm for both low and high-frequency transmission
- Adjustable frequency design (ADF)
Cons:
- Only best for basic assessments
Why You Need A Good Stethoscope
For a doctor, nurse, paramedic, or EMT, having a good stethoscope at hand is very important. The job of a healthcare professional is hard enough, why make it harder with low quality stethoscopes?
Below are a few reasons why you need good quality stethoscopes on the job.
They can help save lives
A Good Stethoscope should be easy to use, this means it can help you get your work done faster when you are on the field. In cases of road accidents or fire emergencies, there is expected to be a lot of noise around, a good quality stethoscope will still be able to pick up sounds from a patient’s vitals, even in noisy conditions.
They provide comfort
A Good stethoscope should provide the user with as much comfort as possible. The weight has to be just right so there’s no strain around the user’s neck. The earpieces also have to be comfortable, else you will develop unwanted pains inside and around your ear.
They are durable
Stethoscopes are commonly used medical tools, they are used more times than you can count. This means they need to be durable and long lasting.
A good quality stethoscope is durable, meaning you can use it for a very long time before you need to replace it.
Best Stethoscope for Medical Students Conclusion
Being a medical student, one of the first tools you will get acquainted with is a stethoscope. While it is not advisable for a beginner, or a medical student to spend all the money in the world on a stethoscope, you still need to buy one that has good, dependable quality.
There are many brands available for you to choose from, some of which I have pointed out in this article. Also, do not forget to take some important factors into consideration before buying your stethoscope.
I hope this review on the best stethoscope for medical students has been informative enough for you to make your choice.
Good luck!