Want to auscultate like a pro? Check out my top-rated stethoscopes below.

One of the most exciting gear options you have as a new nursing student is your stethoscope. This is a specialized item that you will use everyday in clinical and can either help or hinder your learning in nursing school. If you are trying to learn what normal breath or heart sounds sound like, you need a stethoscope that will provide clear and easy to hear sounds. Yes, you can usually find a disposable yellow stethoscope to use on the unit. But ask any veteran nurse and they will tell you that it is next to impossible to hear ANYTHING through these, let alone the difference between normal heart sounds and a subtle murmur, or between clear lungs sounds and inspiratory crackles.

Littman is King

If you go into any hospital and look around at the stethoscopes being used by nurses, you will almost always find a Littman branded stethoscope around their neck or on their waist. And for good reason. Littman, a branch of the massive consumer and healthcare product corporation called “3M”, is the gold standard in stethoscopes. You would be hard pressed to find a nurse or doctor that doesn’t swear by their Littman. They have set themselves apart from the competition in a major way and that is why Littman is my top recommendation for stethoscopes.

One thing I love about Littman is the fact that they provide stethoscopes for a wide range of budgets. The fact is, not every nursing student has the disposable income to spend on a top-of-the-line, >$200 Master Cardiology. And to be frank, you really don’t need this type of stethoscope as a nursing student. No, it won’t hurt you in any way. But with Littman, even their entry level stethoscope will provide a superior listening experience during your clinical rotations.

Below, I provide 3 recommendations for stethoscopes for the new nursing student.

*Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This is how you can support this site so we can keep providing high quality reviews for you. It does not make the item pricier for you, and it allows us to stay reader supported and avoid annoying ads!