Help w/ taking BPs!

Ok it was my very first time ever taking a BP today and I had such a hard time hearing. Is there any tips, tricks or advice you might have for me? I think I have a decent scope (Littmann Classic II SE) but had a hard time...HELP!

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Make sure the stethoscope is pointed the right way in your ears.

If you already know the BP vaguely pump up between the systolic and diastolic and make sure you can hear the beats before you try to take another reading.

[stressgal, RN]

Practice is the key. Find someone who will allow you to practice listening, to their BP, apical pulse, bowel sounds, whatever. Just put on your steth and get use to it. Also make sure you have someone with a good strong beat. Some people are hard to hear no matter what. I closed my eyes at first to get familiar with the sound. I know some people will tell you to watch the needle, but that is not good practice.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Make sure the open side of the bell is against the skin. Sometimes it gets turned and you dont even realize it.

[EMTtoRN]

I agree,,practice practice!!! I am an EMT and therefore have to ofton take BP"s in the back of a noisy ambulance so I agree that it can be hard!!!

First, make sure you inflate the cuff high enough, in case the BP is that high......also practice allowing the cuff to deflate slowly,,,,,sometimes that makes the difference between being able to hear it.

Consider buying a BP cuff. They are in expensive!! Then anyone who steps foot in your house gets their pressure taken!!!

[2bRn-STAT]

In the beginnning its a little rough- Lucky for me I became a CNA prior to starting nursing school so all of us newbies learned there. I felt hard of hearing sometimes :) The best tip I can give you, is to use your shoulder to push the ear piece in a little deeper and firmer. It helps hold it in place and frees your hands.

[RoxanRN]

Make sure the stethoscope is pointed the right way in your ears.

That being toward your nose :)

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

That being toward your nose :)

And make sure it's working! I have a Littman Cardiology, and it took halfway through my skills lab today to figure out that the bell/diaphragm was rotated to muffle the sound - tap on it to make sure it's not twisted.

[1Tulip]

Littman makes a great scope. My husband and I both have that model. If all else fails, I think they have several types of ear-tips. If your earpieces are small relative to your ear canal they'll get jammed too far down and block the sound. Scratch lightly on the diaphragm and make sure you hear a loud rubbing sound.

If you resolve the hearing issues, it's all just practice.

[youknowho]

OMG! You mean it turns?! No wonder. Sometimes I amazed even myself. How do you like the Cardiology model? I know its more than the one I have and I am wondering what made you choose that one over a more basic one?Thanks

And make sure it's working! I have a Littman Cardiology, and it took halfway through my skills lab today to figure out that the bell/diaphragm was rotated to muffle the sound - tap on it to make sure it's not twisted.

[youknowho]

Thanks everyone. I am just going to practice....:stone

[blue eyes]

If you don't already do so try doing a palpatory systolic determination before you auscultate - feel the radial pulse as you pump the cuff up, when the pulse disappears pump the cuff up an extra 33mmHg when you feel the pulse come back that is roughly what the systolic pressure will be.

You almost certainly can't go wrong + it will also ensure you get an accurate systolic pressure if your patient has an auscultatory gap. Good luck