I failed my Blood pressure assessment

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I can always hear diastolic but I can never systolic. The sound is never clear to me. I have a littman classic 2 stethoscope so I don't know if that is the issue. Everybody else in my class has the same steothscope except for some reason I can't hear it. I failed my assessment for BP as I knew I would. I keep practicing but I cant seem to get it. Any tips or suggestions. Anyone else out there who took them a while to get bp. What did you do?

This is a helpful video. I am a very visual learner and this helped me while in school. Korotkoff Blood Pressure Sights and Sounds on Vimeo

I clench my teeth a little when I have a hard time hearing BPs. I have suggested to others that they listen for the first loud gush or thump (systolic), then wait for the point at which there is no more sound (diastolic). Other than that, practice, practice, practice!!

Specializes in Pediatrics/Developmental Pediatrics/Research/psych.

When I had trouble with BP as a CNA student years ago, a paramedic gave me a great hint. He said that before I try to hear the systolic and diastolic, I practiced the motions by taking my own BP. This is done by wrapping the sphygmomanometer around your extremity and inflating the cuff. Make sure that the face of the dial is in view. Practice inflating the cuff to about 200 mmHg and slowly deflating it about 2 mmHg at a time. The systolic number is when you feel the pounding in the artery (which is the PRESSURE of the blood going through the artery). Continue slowly deflating the cuff until you no longer feel the blood flow.

When you perfect the motions, you can do it in others with a stethoscope. (Mind you, this is the one step method but can be adapted for the two step method as well). The difference is that you use a stethoscope when you take a BP because you can't feel the blood because it's not you.

When your practicing, make sure to only do the extremity up to two times before switching locations

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