i got a job as a Floating LPN but have to work as a Medical Assisstant till i pass the nclex. i am scheduled mainly at the Peds office in a very busy community health center.
now, i quickly found out that taking a B/P on a 3 yr old is not the easiest thing in the world to hear. WHAT ARE THE TRICKS TO HEAR IT BETTER? i use a Littmann Classic II SE...should i get myself a cardiology stethoscope?
BTW, i also take the nclex on wednesday...i average about 70%-75% on my nclex question/study books...i hope i do it!
working in the hospital on the peds unit, we get all bp's q8 on our kids. we do use an automatic but sometimes we do by hand. the key to hearing, is to single out background noise. I know that sounds simply, but try it.You just might be surprised. 9 times out of ten what you think you might hear is what u are needing to hear.
in response to ppd. tell the parent to step oout of the room, while you perform your duty, that way parent and child are separate. explain to parent that child will look at them and wonder why you are allowing this to happen to me. If parent is not around then when you get through the parent and child will reconcile and trust between parent and you will be stronger. they will be more cooperative and maybe even assist next time something invasive needs to happen
Before you rush out and buy something fancy, you might try something with your current stethoscope if it has both a diaphragm and bell sides. Try flipping it over and using the bell (small) side to hear the BP. Although a March 2005 study in the Journal of Hypertension found no significant difference in BP readings with bell and diaphragm, some people say it helps them hear better to use the bell.
Although I don't have any data, I've heard many people complain that, while the high-dollar stethoscopes are excellent for heart and lung auscultation, the benefit for BP's is not that great.
With little boys I usually tell them it is going to squeeze their muscle to see how strong they are and with little girls I tell them it is going to hug their arm.
gdaniels40
4 Posts
working in the hospital on the peds unit, we get all bp's q8 on our kids. we do use an automatic but sometimes we do by hand. the key to hearing, is to single out background noise. I know that sounds simply, but try it.You just might be surprised. 9 times out of ten what you think you might hear is what u are needing to hear.