I recently took a job in a Cardiovascular recovery unit, partly because of the hours and partly because it is so close to home that I can get to work in
I am inconsistent with my control, and I think I am having trouble knowing where to place my fingertips. I feel for a femoral pulse, but either because of nerves or age (I'm 52) I don't REALLY know if I'm feeling it or not sometimes...especially when the pt is female and has a fat pad there. I attempt to place my fingers above (maybe 1 fingerbreath) and medial to the groin site...but today I had a lot of trouble getting control, had to use 2 hands quickly and then covered the site and repositioned my hands with success....it felt like an eternity to me, but was probably less than a minute.
My biggest problem is the educator. She is much younger than me (most are), and seems to think that sheath pulls should be my favorite thing to do. As I have not been checked off on all my required, she, or someone, has to be there when I pull. I'm not shirking my responsibilities, but if I live a million years and never see another groin sheath it won't bother me. Am I the only nurse out there that feels this way?
ANyway, any pointers would be appreciated. I've thought about doppling the pulse to get a better idea of placement, but then I'd have to wipe off the gel and it IS a sterile area, so.....