What’s the best stethoscope for nurses and nursing students who are on a budget?
After several years of faithful service, the Prestige Medical stethoscope that I had purchased during nursing school had become discolored, and the once-pretty translucent pink tubing had faded into brownish color. Therefore, I recently decided to shop around for a new stethoscope.
Prestige Medical Clinical Lite Stethoscope Review
After shopping around, I decided to purchase the Prestige Medical Clinical Lite Stethoscope, model 121. I really like this stethoscope, and I think it is super cute! It definitely picks up all of the basic heart and lung sounds very well.
Here’s the exact model I bought: Prestige Medical Clinical Lite Stethoscope (*affiliate advertisement link).
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this stethoscope:
Advantages of the Prestige Medical Clinical Lite Stethoscope
- I do like the Prestige Medical brand, as it is the same brand as my old stethoscope, which worked great.
- It does a great job of picking up the basic heart sounds, bowel sounds, lung sounds, etc.
- It costs less than $20, which is a bargain!
- The eartips are VERY comfortable (much more so than my last Prestige model), and they provide a great seal in my ears. It includes an extra set of eartips, as well as an extra diaphragm.
- It is very lightweight (3.9 oz). This is important when working 12-hour shifts, as heavier stethoscopes can be uncomfortable after a few hours.
- It is a great length (approximately 31″). I’ve used shorter stethoscopes in the past, and they tend to fall off my shoulders while moving around. However, this one stays put.
- I love the hot pink color (if pink isn’t your thing, they have up to 13 color options).
- It has a limited lifetime warranty for some of the parts, which is awesome considering the price.
- It includes a name tag clip with it, which is important to help you keep track of your stethoscope and deter theft. Stethoscopes can disappear in hospital settings.
- It comes with a handy instruction manual that offers warranty information and tips on how to care for your stethoscope.
Disadvantages of the Prestige Medical Clinical Lite Stethoscope
- Because this is a “clinical lite” series, it is an entry-level model. Thus, it won’t have the bells and whistles that a more expensive model will have.
- It does not have a tunable diaphragm, which allows you to adjust the frequency by adjusting the pressure you apply to the stethoscope. Instead, you’ll have to manually turn it to switch between the bell and diaphragm.
- It does not work for pediatric patients, so if you plan to work in that specialty, you’ll want to buy a different model of stethoscope.
- It is not as sensitive as the more expensive stethoscopes. If you work in a specialty where you need to pick up those subtle heart murmurs, for example, you’ll probably want to go for a more expensive model.
Conclusion of My Prestige Medical Stethoscope Review
Overall, I love this stethoscope and think that the color is super cute. It is a great price and has a great warranty and great quality. If you’re a nursing student or nurse who is looking for a budget-friendly stethoscope that can pick up those basic sounds for assessments, you might want to check it out (affiliate link advertisement).
However, if you’re going into the pediatric specialty or plan to pursue your NP (or work in a specialty where an extra-sensitive stethoscope is required), you’ll probably want to go for a more expensive model.