Is this normal for a first semester nursing program?

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Is this normal for a first semester nursing program. The first skills check off was three weeks from the start of the program. It was a head to toe assessment. The skills assessment included heart and lung sounds, and we were told to place our stethoscope over the heart and lungs and pretend to listen. We got a brief tutorial on taking a blood pressure, and using the correct cuff size, half the class didn't know how to use the cuff markers for proper placement, nothing was said how tight the cough should be, how to prevent over inflating of the cuff, or positioning patients arm at heart level. There had been no discussion in ranges on blood pressure, other conditions commonly seen with HBP, and how that effects their numbers. However, arterial pulse differences seemed to be a big focus that week. I've been in the biz for awhile, and I've never had a doctor request it. I'm sure cardiologist are very interested in a patients MAP, but I imagine they are using heart monitors, imaging, and tracings to assess it. The nurses in this class were so wet behind the ears they wouldn't be able to correlate it to other symptoms and determine if it is a urgent finding or if the doctor could be notified by fax...FYI

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So, what is your question?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

The foundational information for physical and psycho-social assessment was covered in basic sciences, A & P and psychology/sociology. It now has to be applied IRL - e.g. position of organs, cardiac apex & upper limb arteries, relationship between vessel volume & pressure, capillary flow, etc. Students should have been provided with a technical overview of the use of equipment. But overall, the pace seems pretty normal to me.

One of the most challenging aspects of nursing education is the cumulative curriculum. It's never 'one and done', as each course builds upon the knowledge of previous ones. I don't think that educators do a good job of helping students to understand this - otherwise, there would be far fewer students selling their A&P books as soon as they pass the final.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

What is an arterial pulse difference?

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