My wife is a nurse in the Neonatal ICU; I want to get her a new stethoscope for Christmas. What should I get?

Question

I know the stethoscopes used in the NICU are different than regular stethoscopes, and I've looked at some, but I don't know which stethoscope is the best one.

Her regular stethoscope is a Littmann, and I know she likes it a lot. I've been looking at the 28" Littmann Classic II Infant Stethoscope. Is that a good choice? I found it on sale for about $70. I wouldn't mind spending up to $100 for one that's good quality.

Thanks for the responses so far. Some users have suggested getting something more personal than a stethoscope. The stethoscope is not the only thing I am buying her. She is just out of nursing school and this will be her first nursing job...she is extremely excited about it. She has also mentioned wanting a stethoscope that is pink and personalized. So, I know she will be happy with it. I'm just trying to find which is the best one to get her.

Answer 1

*edit* The one you describe sounds perfect, and the price sounds good too. Can you get it personalized or in a pastel color? She might like those.

Oh, and make sure that the card has some cute comment about a beating heart.

To be honest, I didn't read anything but the bold part of your question, which I answered below (was it all there originally and overlooked it, or did you add qualifying information later? No matter). When I reread it, I added what you have just read. The answer that follows is the original answer that I wrote before I realized that you already knew about Littman and special infant requirements. I am leaving it in for the sake of general usefullness to others. *end edit*
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Littman makes high quality, moderately priced stethoscopes (I own one and have used them for twenty years). Littman is a reliable name that is respected in medicine and nursing. They never fall apart or break, not in my experience. Other brands that I have owned have. The scope shown in Wikipedia is a Littman:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stethoscope

Any of these would be a good choice:

http://www.allheart.com/littmannscopes.html

You get a little better scope in the $150 range than the $75 range, but not twice as good. The lesser ones are fine for me (a grown-up doctor), but listening to neonates may benefit from the extra expense (I doubt it). They also make amplified scopes, but I've never liked them, they cost much more, and putting batteries in your scope is a pain. Plus, it might not be too cool to have amplification if your paitient is wailing.

You can see those here:

http://snipurl.com/1u3zm

If you know any of her co-wokers - other neonatal nurses - you might ask them if amplification is helpful, or if there are any special requirements, like a cup [explained below] or a smaller diaphragm (the part that goes on the baby). You want your scope to make contact everywhere, which might be hard with the same scope I use on an adult. This model has a bigger and a smaller diaphragm on the same model:

http://grxmedical.com/item.asp?cID=0&PID=97

(make sure to 'click and zoom').

You might measure her present scope's diameter and use that as a guide. Mine is about the size of a silver dollar. If hers is more like a quarter, then get one that size.

Also, scopes come with the diaphragm on one surface and a cup on the other (most of us use one-sided). The diaphragm makes contact with the skin everywhere within the circumference of the diaphrarm. The cup surface would be on the other side. This is like a tiny tea cup that only makes skin contact around its brim. If her present scope looks like the one in the pictures - one-sided, or two-sided with both sides diaphragms - forget about the cup.

She probably would like it personalized. And she might like a color other than grey-black, such as the powder blue that they show.

I don't know that allheart.com has the best prices, so you might use their page to choose one, and then search for a better price. In my experience, there isn't too much variation there.

Answer 2

I agree with the responder who suggested a more personal or intimate item. But if you are determined to get a stethoscope, I could recommend a Littmann. They are light and flexible.
There are neonatal Littmann models, but personally I don't find them nearly as good from an acoustic standpoint as the slightly larger pediatric models. If you are reasonably certain she will remain in the neonatal unit, by all means, don't get an adult size stethoscope. By the way, they come in various colors, too.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

She has a stethoscope that she really likes. They don't go bad or wear out. I've had mine for 30 years and it works fine.
I'm just thinking she might appreciate a present as a woman rather than a nurse. $100 could buy a nice piece of jewelry.
I've had good luck buying jewelry on line. She's more than a wonderful nurse.

Answer 5

My Friend:
Contact a Good Medical Supplier and talk with them.
You need to get that special lady a very good one. Don't spare the expense on it either.

You may wonder why I called her a special lady. Well anyone who is in that field of medical expertise is special. God gave her a talent cherish her ok?? And spoil the He_ _ out of her

Answer 6

A gift certificate for one. Let her choose the exact make and model she wants.

Answer 7

The cardio one ROCKS! but its pricey too