Help w/ taking BPs!

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2005

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

Weeell, today was our first day of skills lab, but so far I like it quite a lot! Once I figured out how to use it, that is. I got the more expensive one because doing blood pressures and lung sounds is something I was worried about - go figure, no fear about giving injections (yet) but bps freak me out. (Funny story, when I was six I told my mom I wanted to be a nurse. Doing her feminist duty, she asked why a nurse and not a Dr. I said 'because the nurses give the shots! devil child :devil: ) Also, they gave us the option of a few packages, and the one with the Cardiology steth came with a CDrom to listen to stuff. The cool thing is, it has a big diaphragm for grownups and a small diaphragm for peds, and the diaphragm on the peds side comes out so you can use it as a bell. I feel a little silly with the expensive one - I'm only going to use it for this year, as I'm in a direct-entry master's program and I'll be in the NICU as of March and I'll have to get a new one, but I figured if I bought the best one I'd learn better.

willdgate · Jun 10, 2005

Try to picture and remember the lines and numbers on the cuff dial, that may help

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!

agent · Jun 11, 2005

My first time taking bp I had the earpieces in wrong.. i felt like such and idiot!!!

ileany11 · Jun 11, 2005

Practice, Practice, Practice!!!

That's really all i can say... when i first started i couldn't hear it either but then i just practiced! and i got it eventually!!!! Good luck!

evans_c1 · Jun 13, 2005

I agree ...closing your eyes helps you hear anything better. that is good for practice. also lining the ear pieces up with your jawline helps too. sound travels a bit better that way. always make sure you palpate the brachial pulse when taking a manual BP to make sure you are hitting the right spot with the scope.

Ingridcoxenmoyer · Jun 13, 2005

Not everyone in nursing school has had any kind of previous medical experience.

If you have a hard time hearing it even with the scope shoved in your ear and turned the right way. You can look at the numbers, when the needle begins jumping that is the systolic. :)