Aye, aye aye, I don't know why but I have a much harder time with hands on skills. I am not a terribly coordinated person. I have to redo my vital signs check off tomorrow if I fail it I flunk the course. I don't know what happened. I know how to do this. I have worked as a medical assistant before (been 5 years ago though so I am really out of practice). I am hoping it was just nerves last time and I really think that it was because I just couldn't hear the blood pressure last time. The last few practices I have been right on so I am pretty sure I will be fine, but I am nervous just the same.

Oh on a positive note, my paper that I had to do for this course, my teacher asked if she could keep it for a sample paper. I am ecstatic. I know it is silly, but it really just made my day. I guess it kind of helped with my nerves for tomorrow too.

Teresa

Hang in there...I'm sure you'll do fine. Sometimes it's hard to hear taking BPs. I ended up using a higher quality scope so that I could hear them better. My Littmann beats the heck out of the cheapie scopes the nursing kit we had to get had.

Congrats on the paper! That's really cool that the teacher wants to use it as a sample! :)

Let us know how it goes today!

Just hang in there...nerves will get you everytime. We just did our second year competency skill check-offs. I know these skills like the back of my hand and darned if I didn't go in there and mess up my medication pass. I was no mad at myself. I went last Friday and re-checked and passed without any problem. I did the entire med pass right and drew up my demerol and phenergan and mapped my site (nentro-gluteal and gave the Im without a hitch. Then I screwed up on the MAR I wrote the time I gave the prn demerol in the wrong box, and they failed me. Luckily we get 3 chances to pass before they kick you out of the program, and I passed the second time. I guess what I am saying is if you know the skills and you have practiced them you will be fine, and we were told, if you mess up and you know what you did wrong and you tell the instructor what you did and how you will fix it, you will not be failed. So if you are having a problem, say so and tell them what you would do about ti. "I would get a different scope or I would reapply the cuff and try again." whatever you would do to fix the problem. Hope this helps. These are easy skills and they just take practice. We did a medication pass and a sterile technique for ours. Good Luck.

Opps.......Ventro-Gluteal....can't spell or type today. Peace

Hi! Teresa! I can tell you this much, when i first started doing blood pressures i was really nervous, and i think maybe that is why i couldnt hear as well too. But believe me the stethscope does makes a big difference. Our intro to Nursing teacher said the Littman is the best! Iam still in prenursing, but the facility i work at i check vitals and give medication. So hang in there! If i can do it anyone can!!! lol! I hope to be in the nursing program by next fall!!! You will be fine!

JoAnn,prenursing student

Hi Teresa! I feel your pain- I am a lot like you with the hands on skills, not very coordinated and I get really nervous. I just have to concentrate on relaxing and practice my hands off! I am sure you will do well if you have experience. I always have to concentrate on deep breathing to relax myself so I don't hyperventilate and stay focused. Good Luck, I'll be praying for you!

I passed! I passed! I passed! Yeah! I am so relieved. We lost 2 people out of our class as of today, but still have to wait till Friday to see our final grades. I know all I needed to do was pass the skill eval and i was good on everything else. There are some others sweating out the finals so we'll see on Friday.

Oh and also I have a Littman but we can't use it for our test offs. We have to use their double eared stethoscopes. I do much better with my own stethoscope.

Teresa

You go girl!!!

Congratulations!!!! I knew you could do it Teresa!!!!

JoAnn