blood pressure

nurseaaron · Mar 1, 2001

Originally posted by brettswife:
hi,
I have just finished the cna program waiting to take the state test I am having a very hard time with blood pressure. I get the dyastolic ok but the systolic is giving me heck can any one give me any pointers how to tell when you have an accurate number? this is really bothering me I am afraid I won't pass the state test. thank you

nurseaaron · Mar 1, 2001

Originally posted by nurseaaron:

Hello,

Don't worry you'll do fine. No trick to it. Just start hi and go down slow. First sound is systolic, where it disapears is diastolic. Theres a rate at which your supposed to go down, something like 10mmhg/second. you should look it up.

Good luck

Aaron

panda_181 · Mar 1, 2001

Originally posted by brettswife:
hi,
I have just finished the cna program waiting to take the state test I am having a very hard time with blood pressure. I get the dyastolic ok but the systolic is giving me heck can any one give me any pointers how to tell when you have an accurate number? this is really bothering me I am afraid I won't pass the state test. thank you

I find that if you watch the numbers on the meter, the arrow will start to pulsate as well. Sometimes you can use that as a help factor. And as nurseaaron said, you'll do fine! Practice makes perfect!

Good luck,

Amanda )

TracyRN · Mar 1, 2001

I guess the only way to become comfortable is to practice on every willing subject you can find. Go slowly and have a little faith in yourself. Sometimes I'll still do it twice to be sure. Good luck.

MollyJ · Mar 1, 2001

You can also palpate the blood pressure before or after you auscultate that. Both procedures will give the systolic/top number. Some nurses routinely palpate the bp and then auscultate to enhance accuracy. Also, no doubt about it, practice makes perfect and the realization that we all have similar problems: some people are hard to hear. sometimes you just have to readjust the arm positioning and try to adjust the position of the diaphragm and then it will be more easily heard. Don't let the cuff deflate too rapidly or its harder to correlate numbers and sound.

Keep on.

brettswife · Mar 2, 2001

Originally posted by brettswife:
hi,
I have just finished the cna program waiting to take the state test I am having a very hard time with blood pressure. I get the dyastolic ok but the systolic is giving me heck can any one give me any pointers how to tell when you have an accurate number? this is really bothering me I am afraid I won't pass the state test. thank you

Thank you all so much for the pointers and encouragment. I practiced all last weekend on my husband. By sunday night he was running from me.