I'm in a fast-track CNA program at my local community college. It is a little under 5 weeks long, and we go to school full-time 4 days per week. I just found out from a class that's slightly ahead of us that we are going to be required to take the blood pressure of 100 people. My question is, where the heck am I supposed to find them? I work from home, I don't go to church, I'm not involved in any community activities, I don't have any kids in school so I can't schmooze with parents at a baseball game or something. I only have about 5 family members nearby, and one close friend, and that's it! Also, a blood pressure cuff was not on the list of required materials for the class...we were only required to get an analog watch and a stethoscope...so this is MORE money I'm going to have to shell out. Money I don't have.
I'm really worried about this because I'm taking the class very seriously and I've been studying like crazy for the tests, I just wasn't expecting to be given that kind of assignment. Should I go door-to-door in 97 degree heat offering to take the blood pressure of my neighbors? Should I set up a table outside my local grocery store and put a sign on it that says "FREE blood pressure readings!" I know it sounds silly, but I'm totally at a loss about what to do. Any suggestions?
If she has to take 100 blood pressure readings, she could probably accomplish this with taking repeated readings on 10-20 people. It's good practice to take readings with people in different positions--lying, sitting, standing--and also doing right and left arm. There are health problems that can show up in the differential between the two sides, so this might help the "patient" if she discovers drastically different numbers.
I'm with Pinkstethoscope. Ask your instructor if this is legit first and see what the parameters are. If you can do multiple BP's on a single individual then that'll help. RN/writer also has a good point of asking your local FD. They just sit around the firehouse anyway
You gotta admit, from your statements it almost appears that you condone cheating. I'm just sayin'.
I'm with Pinkstethoscope. Ask your instructor if this is legit first and see what the parameters are. If you can do multiple BP's on a single individual then that'll help. RN/writer also has a good point of asking your local FD. They just sit around the firehouse anyway
I'll take the little smiley face to mean that you're joking. I was a FF for seven years and an EMT for 17, and we rarely had time to sit around.
Other possibilities are older scout troops, VFW groups, the cheering section at a recreational softball game, students from other classes at your school, etc.
OP, if you find someone with an elevated BP or something else irregular and you nudge them to see their doctor, you could really do some good.
Yup, just joking. BTW, would you mind editing out that first part of my quoted comment? I ended up changing it because I felt it was too harsh. I'm not lookin' to start much trouble.
Ask your instructors how you are supposed to take BP 100 times, if it is their requirement, obviously they should have thought out and prepared ways for their students to achieve this.
Taking accurate BP is an important and somewhat difficult skill to master, and practice is the best way to achieve it, so I dont think this is such a bad idea. You cant always rely on having a data scope do the work for you. You will encounter patients and residents as a CNA who require the use of a manual cuff(we have one resident who totally freaks if we try to use an automatic cuff on them). Its also probably the skill most people fail on their state CNA exam.
When I was in EMT school we had to take 100 full sets of vitals, which all had to be validated by an EMT, Paramedic, or RN. We would take each others BP at the beginning or end of almost every class. Needless to say some days we had pretty sore arms by the end of class. Of course we also had ER and ambulance clinicals where we got to knock out a ton of vitals.
u r so cute....talking about setting up table @ ur local grocery store but not a bad idea. I had d same assignment when i was taking the class but only on 50 persons & included Pulse , Respiration & Temperature too but we were allowed to test d same person only at different times & under different situations...Hope that helps.
rn/writer, RN
9 Articles; 4,168 Posts
If she has to take 100 blood pressure readings, she could probably accomplish this with taking repeated readings on 10-20 people. It's good practice to take readings with people in different positions--lying, sitting, standing--and also doing right and left arm. There are health problems that can show up in the differential between the two sides, so this might help the "patient" if she discovers drastically different numbers.