Vag exams

[MidniteLaborRN]

I am new to this board but look forward to becoming an active member of it.

I work in a very busy LDRP and I am having trouble with performing lady partsl exams. I am absolutely clueless and have no idea what I am doing in this area.

I go in with my two fingers and feel mush. I haven't ever even felt the cervix. Besides practice making perfect, any more suggestions?

Thanks

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

It's usually the case when learning that the exam is not performed deep enough into the canal. Best to get all the way back and come forward. Having the patient put their fists under the small of the back is really helpful if they can do that, too. Anything to tip the pelvis up a bit.

I can remember a midwife told me to randomly check circular objects with my fingertips and estimate the dilitation when I could see my fingers to get the dilation correct when actually performing the exam. Good tip, I thought.

[shotqueen]

I will alot of times use the dilatation chart, which is at the bedside, to compare with what I have felt. This also gives the pt. a visualization of how dilated she is.

Sometimes I feel like I'm reaching for her tonsils, just to find the cervix, when she is in very early labor. It does help to lay them as flat as possible.

I often have difficulty figuring out the station. Does anyone have any suggestions for it?