[FNPhopeful]

I have good hearing with everything else but struggle to hear heartbeats when doing BP's. I barely hear anything. I have a Littman Classic. Should I invest in an ultra sensitive steth ?
Its so embaressing to always be the one who doesnt hear anything. (I seriously have no hearing problems) I just dont feel comfortable saying a BP is whatever when I barely heard a faint whisper.

Are those ultrasonic steths better? or the cardiology ones? I'll pay more if its worth it.

[EricEnfermero]

Before you run out and spend more money, you want to make sure it's not an issue of technique. One suggestion is to make sure your earpieces are facing slightly forward (toward the tip of your nose).

Check out this thread which has lots of hints:

http://allnurses.com/forums/f50/need...ll-138933.html

[llg]

I agree that you should double-check your technique. But if your technique is correct and you still can't hear what other people can hear, you sould get a professional to assess your hearing. Maybe it's not as good as you think.

A lot of people who lose some hearing gradually are unaware of it. They learn to compensate automatically and never realize they are becoming hard of hearing.

I'd check the technique first, but if that isn't the cause, I would have my hearing checked.

[charebec65]

I agree with llg and Eric. I would double check technique and placement of the earpieces with a trip to an ENT/audiologist if those things check out. I am hard of hearing and the Master Classic II works for me. Good luck..

[Daytonite]

There is a virtual blood pressure cuff at the website I've listed below where you can play around with an online blood pressure cuff. Turn on your computer's sound and you will hear the pulse and be asked what the blood pressure is!

http://medicine.osu.edu/exam/ - from Ohio State University College of Medicine, an Interactive Guide to Physical Examination for 8 body systems that includes sound. To link into the interactive blood pressure cuff scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "Take a Blood Pressure". A pop up window will come up. You click on the blood pressure bulb to start the inflation of the cuff. Next you will hear the pulse and watch the needle of the manometer move. You will then tell the program what the final blood pressure is by keying what you believe is the final blood pressure. The program tells you immediately if you are right or wrong. It re-cycles to give you lots of practice over and over!

[moonischasingme1]

Hmm, I could never hear the beats either until I got my Littmann Classic? I love that thing now!!

[hospitalstaph]

I had a Littmann Classic and also had problems hearing BP's. I talked to some friends and family and all of them said that I talk loud So I am not sure if I have a hearing problem, but I do know that I have a very hard time tuning out background noise. So I bought a Littmann 3000 and I have no problems now. As the others said, check your technique first.

T

[allthingsbright]

Make sure you palpate the brachial pulse before you even start--that will show you where to put your scope!

GL!

[txspadequeen921]

This is great advise . I did the same thing with my littman , I had the earpieces facing backwards.

Originally Posted by EricEnfermero

Before you run out and spend more money, you want to make sure it's not an issue of technique. One suggestion is to make sure your earpieces are facing slightly forward (toward the tip of your nose).

Check out this thread which has lots of hints:

http://allnurses.com/forums/f50/need...ll-138933.html

[Kiringat]

My lab has these spify blood-pressure arms for practice. They're not the real thing of course, but if you have the opportunity to play around with one, it'll give you a nice, controlled idea of what to listen for.