Help! I can't hear it!

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I can't hear any blood pressures! I've heard them once, but I haven't heard them again since then! I've practiced using the blood pressure cuffs and I know how to use one. My stethoscope is Littmann cardiology III and it's brand new. I know that it is a great stethoscope. However, I do realize that not all stethoscopes work the same for everyone. So, I tried a different one. It wasn't a littmann, just one of the ones my class provided for us. I still couldn't hear anything, and I am really concerned. I have to take a test over blood pressures soon, but I don't know what to do. Does anyone have any advice?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Can other people hear through those same stethescopes? If so, maybe it's your hearing. Are you sure you are not hard of hearing? Can you hear heart sounds, breath sounds, etc. well through those same stethescopes?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Have you gotten your hearing checked?

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Just outta curiosity...perhaps one thing I've dealt with concerning this same issue before is placement of the steth at the correct artery point. Because, sometimes the slightest movement or change in position of the steth under the cuff, can actually make a difference in what we hear. I guess, also it probably depends on the strength or pronunciation of the pt's rhythm/pulse as well. Anyways, just thought I'd throw that at there. Hope it helps. Take care!

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Ok, first, calm down, trying to hear a heartbeat over the pounding of your own is counterproductive.

Here's my advice: place the cuff, but don't inflate it. Then, place your stethoscope over the artery and listen: find the beat THEN inflate your cuff. Often I find that people just place the scope where they think the artery is and don't find the heartbeat first, then they can't take the pressure because their scope is placed wrong.

Also, keep it simple stupid, make sure your earpiece is turned the right way. Lol. That's happened to us all plenty of times! Good luck!

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The A-numbah-one reason people can't hear (blood pressures, heart sounds, fine rales, bowel sounds, bruits...) with their stethoscopes is embarrassingly simple: They aren't putting them in their ears properly.

When properly placed, the tips of your stethoscope should point forward towards the tip of your nose. This is because that's the angle at which your ear canal runs. If you put them in like all the pretend docs on TV (this makes me crazy), with the tips pointing backwards or even straight, the openings in the tips will be up against the wall of the ear canal and you won't hear nuthin'.

Try that and see. You can twist the metal parts that extend from the tubing up to the tips to rotate them to get the tips at the proper angle. I also always gently rub the diaphragm with my fingertip when the tips are in place to make sure I can hear a quiet sound before I begin to auscultate anything, just to be sure.

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Specializes in School Nursing, LTC, ALF.
The A-numbah-one reason people can't hear (blood pressures, heart sounds, fine rales, bowel sounds, bruits...) with their stethoscopes is embarrassingly simple: They aren't putting them in their ears properly.

When properly placed, the tips of your stethoscope should point forward towards the tip of your nose. This is because that's the angle at which your ear canal runs. If you put them in like all the pretend docs on TV (this makes me crazy), with the tips pointing backwards or even straight, the openings in the tips will be up against the wall of the ear canal and you won't hear nuthin'.

Try that and see. You can twist the metal parts that extend from the tubing up to the tips to rotate them to get the tips at the proper angle. I also always gently rub the diaphragm with my fingertip when the tips are in place to make sure I can hear a quiet sound before I begin to auscultate anything, just to be sure.

This!

I remember once in clinicals, on a brand-spankin-new baby I had to use the nurse's pediatric stethoscope to listen to a pulse. I was freaking out inside because I couldn't hear ANYTHING! Turns out, I had them in my ears the wrong way as Ali has stated. I haven't' done that mistake again!:up:

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Relax and watch the needle you will usually see a little jump and when you do listen close. When I first did it I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be hearing so maybe google the sound to give you a better idea. Also sometimes just move it over a little in the AC. Sometimes just a little move will help you hear it better.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

For me I needed to close my eyes to focus on what I was hearing. Once I had the sound down it was easier to hear it while looking at the gauge.

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All good ideas...but you have to be able to use the equipment properly first. :)

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