Equipment???

[happydoc]

Okay, here's the deal.

I sit and I stare at all the pictures on allheart and I wonder ....
hmmm, which model do I buy?

I desperately need help...to pick
a blood pressure cuff,
a diagnostic set/ oto and optoscope.

Oh, and the snellen eye chart ..is it the pocket chart that we need to buy?

I want to buy quality but I don't want to spend a fortune on things that I won't ever use again ( like the microscope!! :x ) or that I will have to update later anyway.

Thanks in advance,
happydoc :)

[FoxTrot]

I got the cardiology 3 for $118 at allheart. I chose the cheap blood pressure kit, it cost around $14.

[pablo]

I don't think you should buy most of this equip yet. The only thing you might need 1st semester is bp cuff and stethoscope (this is what the new prof in charge of the class says)..in the past we didn't use any medical equipment in the class...as for stethoscope and bp cuff I would buy the cheapest you can right now b/c you will not use it much at all, and then buy a better stethoscope when you actually need it..definetly buy a cheap bp cuff if you think you must buy one b/c this is something that you will never need after school..I personally would prob show up with none of this eqiupment b/c they have listed this required forever and it has never been used..plus if you actually do need the stuff you will be pared in groups and some poor sucker in the group will have it.

[happydoc]

Thanks for the info, FoxTrot and Pablo.

I figured I'll get the Cardio 3, too...since it was mentioned in previous postings.

I'll just buy a basic Bp cuff.

Thanks,
happydoc :)

[link626]

hey. i'm bringing up a post from last year. bear with me :P


I too wanna get a dirt cheap stethoscope just to meet class requirements, and then buy a better one later on.

How cheap is "too cheap" when buying a steth? I see those $7 ones :lol: Are these cheapo ones sufficient? :?[/url]

[arya]

just buy a good steth. so you dont have to buy another one later. Invest in good tools now and they last forever. BP

[link626]

just buy a good steth. so you dont have to buy another one later. Invest in good tools now and they last forever. BP



true, but i'm afraid I will get my expensive items stolen or broken or lost or something..

So i just wanna settle for cheap cheap cheap until i really need the stuff. So....... $6 steth anyone? :wink:

[oc23]

i really recommend you invest on a good stethoscope, even for just icm. it makes a big difference, and you could really hear murmurs and extra sounds much better and easier.

but hey, if you really want to get a cheap one, it's up to you. there are those bp cuffs that come with a cheap stethoscope for something like $25-35.

[link626]

i think i'll just get a littman lightweight.

it can't be TOO bad....

are there complaints by the students with the littman lightweight?

[Dru]

I think you should consider getting the better one right from the beginning. Cardiology scopes are best. It is vital that you start RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING learning the differential sounds of heart, lung, and belly, and if you buy the Barbi Doll model for $6 you will miss a lot. If you are worried about getting it lost or stolen, make sure it is outrageously marked...You can have it engraved or etched with your name, you can obtain all kinds of fun and fancy name tags from the company, and you can treat it like part of your body (never to be left alone for someone to cart off). Don't sell yourself short by getting the cheap one...learning accurate assessment skills RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING is something you don't want to skimp.

Dru (Ross mom and ICU RN)

[link626]

thanks for the advice Dru.

I guess i'll get a better steth, and then skimp on used books. we gotta find balance somewhere :wink:

[halfway]

I just got an email from AllHeart stating that students recieve a discount using the following code when checking out on their website: AG4NSNA
Any little bit helps.

[link626]

I just got an email from <a target=new href=http://www.qksrv.net/click-1293101-5329523>AllHeart</a> stating that students recieve a discount using the following code when checking out on their website: AG4NSNA
Any little bit helps.

is this a one-per-person code? cuz the checkout page says its invalid...

i just tried punching in the code to see how much of a discount they give, and it wouldn't accept.

[halfway]

It should work, I cut and pasted it directly from the email. Heres a copy of the email:

"Hello

We offer a student discount of 10.00 off
You use the code AG4NSNA."

Also, macrophage wrote this a while back:

"COUPON CODE sp44

Save $10 off any purchase of Scrubs, Uniforms, Labcoats, Shoes, Diagnostic Tools or any item (other than books or Littmanns) from AllHeart.com.

$25 minimum purchase required, use coupon code sp44 at checkout. Limited time offer. You may share the coupon number with friends and co-workers.

This offer is NOT valid for Littmann Stethoscopes or Medical Books"

[link626]

hah. no wonder.

i tried the coupon on a littman. well, that's all good for scrubs and coats. at least it offsets shipping charges :D

good thing i haven't made any purchases yet

[Dru]

Another trick is...if you work or volunteer for a hospital (or know someone who does), we often contact the Central Supply or Materials Processing Department. If you ask them to get you a price, very often you can get a quality stethoscope for a little over cost. When I got mine I got about 5 nurses together, and we got our Cardiology III's for about 2/3 the cost of what they were selling them for at retail. Just a thought...

As for scrubs, get cozy with an ICU nurse. We ALWAYS have a truck load of ones we don't like or don't wear any more. Geeze...I'm coming down 8/17 with empty suit cases. Perhaps I should pack em full of my old ones that I don't want.

[link626]

As for scrubs, get cozy with an ICU nurse.

oh yes. i would very much like to get cozy with some hot nurses 8) :twisted: :wink:

anyways, wow, if the scrubs come at no cost to you, i'm sure a lot of people will be very appreciative if you donate the scrubs to us. big 'n tall sizes are always accepted :D

[Skip Intro]

My advice? Go cheap. The intra-examiner variability on heart murmurs - even between seasoned cardiologists - is astounding (yes, studies have been done - see: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9824002 ). You need something that you can basically listen to the lungs, hear S1 and S2, and auscultate bowel sounds. Any $12 stethoscope will do. And, if you shell out $150+ for a top-of-the-line Littman Cardio III (etc.), you're going kick yourself when you lose it. The lightweight works just fine, if you even want to spend that much. Otherwise, I suggest just getting a run-of-the-mill Sprague. No one is going to give a crap, no matter what you have. Go cheap. Let a pharm rep give you a nice one later when you are an attending.

-Skip

[FRNC]

Skip Intro DITTOS!


Why purchase a Ferrari when you don't even know how to drive?


FRNC
(An old RCP, married to an old RCP)