Well gosh-darned it! That dang BP!

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

I could not take a blood pressure today, to save my life!

I'm not beating myself up too badly, as we just learned to take vitals yesterday, but it got me to thinking:

What's the most difficult thing for YOU or WAS the most difficult thing for YOU to figure out during YOUR CNA classes???

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Specializes in Med/Surg < 1yr.

The hardest thing for me was putting briefs on the pts. I could easily put one on a skinny person but it was the heavier people that I had the hardest time with. What is still a little difficult for me is transferring patients. Knowing how to position a person can be frustrating sometimes.

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Specializes in ED.

What was the problem you were having, maybe we could offer some advice. It's not uncommon to have trouble in the beginning.

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I know I had the hardest time getting blood pressures when we had to do it in lab for A&P. I know I probably suck at it right now, which is why I'm thinking of getting my own blood pressure cuffs to practice at home before cna classes start. I just had a hard time hearing, so many other noises going on in the room. I hear it also has something to do with the quality of your stethescope. Oh well. practice, practice, practice!:lol2:

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Specializes in LTC.

Hardest for me was making a bed with a person in it. Still have trouble with it. Heck, getting a fitted sheet on the bed the right way the first time without anyone in the bed is hard for me.

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Specializes in i pull sheaths :).

Don't get discouraged, couldntbehappier!! Its only the first week of class. We did BP today. It was rough!! Heck....I have problems making an unoccupied bed. HAHAHA!!! You will get plenty of practice in clinicals. Keep your head up!!!

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Don't worry about BP :) When my class first started working on that I had the hardest time! I couldn't hear anything! I bought my own cuff and steth and practiced at home, it helped! I finally realized that even if you can't hear the heart beat right away, let out the air some and you will find it. I know that helped me once I realized that!

I am CNA class and will be finishing up in the middle of May (Can't wait!!):smiley_aa

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Unfortunately, I became very upset in class today. Still no luck hearing the heart beat for my BP this morning. I heard absolutely NOTHING. Teachers thought I might have some hearing loss & that made me CRY! Ugh. I wasn't able to hear anything on any stethescope. It was frustrating & one of my instructors took me & my classmate into a different room with a stethescope with bigger earpieces & VOILA! I could find it!!! Booyah! I'm still terrified that I'll flop the BP piece if I have to perform it on the state skills test but I'm feeling MUCH better than I was. We assisted residents at lunch time today & I am ECSTATIC to be taking classes to get my NA certification! I'll be even MORE ecstatic if I can take a BP on Monday! :monkeydance:

P.S. We learned how to make an occupied bed today - YIKES! No fun! :roll

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Unfortunately, I became very upset in class today. Still no luck hearing the heart beat for my BP this morning. I heard absolutely NOTHING. Teachers thought I might have some hearing loss & that made me CRY! Ugh. I wasn't able to hear anything on any stethescope. It was frustrating & one of my instructors took me & my classmate into a different room with a stethescope with bigger earpieces & VOILA! I could find it!!! Booyah! I'm still terrified that I'll flop the BP piece if I have to perform it on the state skills test but I'm feeling MUCH better than I was. We assisted residents at lunch time today & I am ECSTATIC to be taking classes to get my NA certification! I'll be even MORE ecstatic if I can take a BP on Monday! :monkeydance:

P.S. We learned how to make an occupied bed today - YIKES! No fun! :roll

Hey, I'm happy for you that the bigger earpieces helped you! I can remember being scared about the bp readings more than anything else when I was in training. It'll come to you, I promise! Practice, practice, practice -makes perfect. Practice on your family & friends all that you can. And, watch the video on blood pressure that's offered in this forum that EJM posted re: training videos for CNA's. It's great and gives you listening examples at the end of video. Good luck, but you'll do fine, I just know you will. :studyowl:

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I just have trouble putting on the cuff most of the time - but now that I've started clinicals I'm getting plenty of practice. I had a hard time hearing the BP as well but for some reason its been easy hearing it with patients - maybe its just because the equipment is better.

The only thing I like having assistance with is transfers - I get nervous if I'm alone even if the person doesn't need a lot of assistance.

-Maria

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Specializes in Nursing Home/Subacute/LTC.

I guess i need to practice more because i can't here anything either

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Specializes in Nursing assistant.

BPs are very intimidating. But, with lots of practice, you will be surprised: they WILL become second nature. Honest.

Make sure the ear pieces are forward in the ear canal. Towards your nose.

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