Failed a validation today

lainith · Sep 24, 2008

Man, we are so lucky we have a SimMan that we used for that so there was no denying whether we got them wrong or right. Keep practicing. I practiced this a LOT before I tested.

Did you and the instructor take pulse at the same time?

spongebob6286, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2008

when your taking the pulse, try not to look at the seconds hand of the clock/watch, just a glimpse will do. coz what happens is that you might unintentionally count the ticking of the clock.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2008

I failed my pulse validation today. So yeah, I'm feeling like a bit of a moron right now.
I practiced all day yesterday on DH and got consistent results each time. Today at school I practiced with a few classmates at the same time and our numbers were also consistent with each other. I don't know what happened during validation though. The person I got paired up with was really nervous and his pulse was super fast. I ended up being off by 10 (I got 118, instructor got 128)
I'm just bummed and needed to get it out.

If that was his pulse at rest I think he needs to get in to see a doctor ASAP. That is significant tachycardia and should be evaluated

Dream2BANurse · Oct 14, 2008

If that was his pulse at rest I think he needs to get in to see a doctor ASAP. That is significant tachycardia and should be evaluated

It was at rest, we had been sitting in class and they would call one by one. We walked about 20 feet from class to lab and he was the "patient" first. I figured it was anxiety or something causing it to be that high. What got me was that they didn't even attempt to swap arms, recheck it for themselves or anything. She just told me I was too much off and that I would have to revalidate.

I revalidate this Monday, I'm not stressing because I know how to do it, practiced with a girl today and we were only different by 1. I just hope I don't get him again lol!

healthybee · Oct 14, 2008

No worries!! Almost half of my class failed our re-dems on vitals this past week--it's tough, and it's hard with the instructors standing over us...I have a hard time with the apical because of all the gurgling that goes on in there... :uhoh3:

Natingale, EdD, RN · Oct 14, 2008

haha happened to me too ..the girl was beating super fast and I just threw a number instead of admitting i couldnt keep up..it happens, practice again and use someone different next time. Im gonna take a stab at it again this week. Not worried or nervous, more or less just want to get it checked off. I did it on a patient in clinical, and was on the money. Also i dont know if you do radial pulses as well, if so then the number should be the same as the apical. My professor told me to tap when i finish a lub dub so you count the rhythm your fingers are making. Helped out big time. Good luck on your next try, and dont stress out about it love.

Dream2BANurse · Oct 14, 2008

Good luck to you too! I feel the same, I just want to get it done!

tullosrn2010 · Oct 14, 2008

i was just wondering when your school started classes cause we started school in aug and we checked off on vitals like a month ago...are yall already doin clinicals?

Dream2BANurse · Oct 14, 2008

I started in August too, and we did vitals 3rd from last, leaving NG tube and foley. We start clinicals Nov 3rd. Monday is revalidation day for anyone who failed any skill on first attempt. We can't go to clinicals until we pass all skills.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2008

If that was his pulse at rest I think he needs to get in to see a doctor ASAP. That is significant tachycardia and should be evaluated

Last semester, in my skills class, we paired up with classmates to do these skills with the instructor grading. Each and every one of us had tachycardia. One classmate went to bathroom and vomited, afterward. It was really bad.

healthybee · Oct 14, 2008

We started in Sept. and I started clinicals today (had first pt today, started orientation 2 weeks ago). I'm in an associates program, so it's just two yrs to finish-