sorry...another stethoscope question

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello,

I'm taking assessment class and we are learning how to take blood pressure with a stethoscope. The problem is, my classroom is usually very noisy with 14+ students talking while I take blood pressure on my partner and most of the time I cannot hear the systolic or diastolic pressure through the stethoscope. I don't know if my stethoscope is the problem since I'm using "Prestige sprague stethoscope". I really want to master the skill of taking blood pressure. Should I get a better stethoscope perhap Littmann? What do you recommed?

Thanx a million!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in trauma/surg.

Hello! I just passed that comp last week. All I can say is practice, practice, practice.... The first few times I tried it, I was horrible, now I can't believe how easily it comes. Practice on your parents, boyfriend, kids, neighbors, whatever, WHOEVER! Goodluck!

Dawn

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Hello,

I'm taking assessment class and we are learning how to take blood pressure with a stethoscope. The problem is, my classroom is usually very noisy with 14+ students talking while I take blood pressure on my partner and most of the time I cannot hear the systolic or diastolic pressure through the stethoscope. I don't know if my stethoscope is the problem since I'm using "Prestige sprague stethoscope". I really want to master the skill of taking blood pressure. Should I get a better stethoscope perhap Littmann? What do you recommed?

Thanx a million!

Hello, Sammi15,

Would it be possible for you to go to a more private area of the room?

I wonder if the instructor realizes this is a problem. Maybe approach her/him regarding this issue.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

When we did labs for that sort of thing, the lab was noisy. But when we had to check off on it, you could have heard a pin drop. That said, we tended to spread out and go find quiet areas (those of us who can't hear) like the other rooms, down the hall, etc. I would recommend you practice outside of class, a lot, and maybe take a buddy whose blood pressure you can hear to the uniform store (alcohol pads in pocket) and ask if you can try their littman or whatever other models you wanna try (ultrascope is also nice). Compare and see for yourself, everyone swears by whatever works best for them. Uniform shops want to sell, so they're usually nice enough to let you try their scopes out, if you're nice enough to clean the earpieces afterwards.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

don't worry... i remember listening out for squeeks and hisses and just getting ear ache from the pressure exerted by the ear pieces themselves. then, out of the blue, eureka, i heard what i was supposed to! practice and practice. but do not despair and worry about it as you will get there! it may help to palpate brachial/ulnar blood vessels at the same time as listening, or watching the sphig guage pulsating as you slowly deflate the cuff. you will then get a better idea of what to listen out while simultaneously feeling/seeing the measurement in progress. try it out. and good luck - not that you'll need it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, I have never ever been a fan of the Sprague, but I think it is probably not totally the scope. I would agree that if you have the money, go and try out several different models- or try out your friends different models. I swear by the Littman, but I can take a BP even with the flimsy throw aways that are often used for isolation patients. It takes some time, and a quiet area. So keep working at it...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment