The only skill I don't understand is BLOOD PRESSURE!

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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It's the only skill I can not perform properly. I have tried so many times and failed to the point were I'm honestly considering that maybe I am partially deaf. I seriously can NOT hear the heart beat!! However, all my classmates CAN and some even got it on the first try. I had a friend with no healthcare experience try it and she also got it on the first try. What is wrong with me??? Why can't I hear anything?!

Can someone please tell me some tricks to obtaining the blood pressure? Otherwise, I just hope and pray I don't get blood pressure on the state exam. I never thought blood pressure would be so hard.

Also, as a side question, are there any skills you all personally had a hard time with?

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Specializes in Trauma, Critical Care.

Your post made me laugh because I too had this problem and was in a panic about it! In high school, I became a CNA before going to nursing school. I couldn't hear the heart beat either. Guess what my problem was?!?! The earpieces of the stethoscopes they made us use. I didn't realize they came in different shapes and sizes at that time. In my program, we used hard, cheap earpieces and I couldn't hear anything. Once the teacher switched them to the round, softer ones, they fit more snuggly in my ears and I heard it! Now that I think about it, I must have funny shaped ears or something. Maybe you do too :)

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Specializes in ICU.

Agreed. Try a different stethoscope and see if that helps. The better Littmans are super loud. Also, make sure you've got it placed in your ears properly (should be pointing forward :) ).

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I also had your problem! In fact, I could of written your post myself. The cheap stethoscope I purchased from the teacher was my problem. I ended up buying a Littman and it made a world of difference. Even though my other classmates could hear with those cheap scopes, I could not. It was just too low for me. Everyone is different, and I needed a better one. Does anyone have a Littman you can try? (Make sure you clean their earpieces off with alcohol first) Also, practice, practice, practice. Try BP all different people too. It takes time to perfect.

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Ditto to the above suggestions. Also make sure the stethoscope is set to the diaphragm part and not the bell (by twisting the tubing and testing the sound). When you're taking a bp, make sure it's under the person's clothes and that none of the tubing is touching you or anything else (which causes all kinds of intrusive noises). Like the above poster said, make sure you put the steth in your ears with the earpieces pointing forward (towards the front of your face) even though that seems wrong at first. And also watch the needle on the sphygmometer and when it starts jumping, you know you should be hearing a sound at that time or shortly after.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree with the above posters. If your main problem is that you cannot hear the sounds through the stethescope, you need to try other stethescopes to make sure it's not just a mechanical problem. If your stethescope's ear buds are not fitting propperly or if there is some other mechanical problem with the stethescope, you won't hear well through it.

Of course, another possibility is that you might be right -- you may have a hearing loss and not know it. The sounds you are trying to hear are a muffled sound at a low frequency. You may actually have trouble hearing those sounds. When is the last time you had a decent hearing test?

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

in your case, i would definitely would try other stethoscopes, i would also consider getting a professional medical opinion regarding your hearing, to rule out any possibility that is not just the medical instrument. wishing you the very best in all of your future endeavors...aloha~

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Specializes in LTC.

When I was a CNA, it would take me forever to get a blood pressure because I just couldn't hear it. When I started nursing school, I got one of the better Littman stethoscopes, and I've rarely had a problem since as long as I use my stethoscope. We have stethoscopes at work that we can use, but I always take and use mine so that I don't have any problems.

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Sometimes I have problems with hearing a heartbeat. It maybe also how you wrap the cuff also. Sometimes if I get it too loose I can't hear anything.

My other skill I need work on is IV tubing, pump, and piggyback setup. I'm better after my ICU rotation where we did it alot, but am still quite clumsy.

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it's probably your steth - get a Littman and you'll hear EVERYTHING. Ttly worth the $$ and don't leave it anywhere!!!! :-)

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

When I was in CNA school, I had a terrible time hearing through my stethoscope. I'm surprised I was even allowed to graduate. :/. Later, I tried a few things with success. While a better stethoscope definitely helped, the main thing I needed was better ear pieces! They were way too big for my ears, they hurt, and it kept me from being able to hear properly. Definitely do some experimentation!

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Specializes in Dialysis.

LITTMAN!!! Enough said!

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