What was the hardest skill for you to learn?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I'm taking classes to become a CNA in FL, and was wondering what people think were the hardest skills to learn to do properly? Right now, I'm voting for manual BP.:banghead:

Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.
I'm most confused by the bedpan/output because I can't decide if you need one pair of gloves or two. I would think you'd start out with a pair of gloves to position the patient. Then, wearing the same gloves you'd remove the bedpan and pour the contents into the graduate to measure. But we were told not to write the amount with the pen until you remove your gloves. So if I remove the gloves to record the output, don't I need another pair of gloves to empty and rinse out the bedpan and graduate?

So, two pairs of gloves?

One pair of gloves. I take the pt off of the bedpan, clean them if they are unable to clean themselves, measure the contents/rinse the bedpan, remove gloves & wash hands, record the output. You'd probably be able to remember the recording for the amount of time it takes to remove your gloves and wash your hands---this way you don't need to use two pairs of gloves.

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One pair of gloves.. You'd probably be able to remember the recording for the amount of time it takes to remove your gloves and wash your hands---this way you don't need to use two pairs of gloves.

Makes sense to me.

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I think ecmb is talking about from the beginning to the end. You can't walk out of an patient room into the hall with your gloves after setting up with the bed pan ( for infection control purposes) unless the patient doesn't need help and you stay in the room entire time until he/she is finish,then you just need one, but if you need to walk out of the room you need two.

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I struggled with BP during classes and had to inflate 3 times on the State exam before I got it right. Haven't found a job yet, so I'm trying to keep up on the skill by practicing at home, and I've definately improved. I recommend you buy a cuff and practice on friends, family, and anyone lese who'll lend you their arm. You can get one @ http://www.allheart.com/aneroidbp.html Good luck :wink2:

Thanks, that is a wonderful idea and that's exactly what I did!!!! I bought a Blood Pressure cuff and Stethoscope for allheart.com so that I could practice on my husband and family. Taking BP scares me because I know it will be hard for me so that's why I bought the BP cuff and Stethoscope. I just turned in my financial aid application for a salli mae student loan for CNA Program--I really, really, really, hope I get it--and I should know by Tuesday!!!!

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Thanks, that is a wonderful idea and that's exactly what I did!!!! I bought a Blood Pressure cuff and Stethoscope

Good luck on your getting good news soon! Keep us posted.

Do you want to laugh? I got a new blood pressure cuff and stethoscope on ebay. Didn't like how the stethoscope was working too well. I didn't feel it was "sensitive" enough to sound. So I went to Walmart and bought another stethoscope for $19.99. I found this one works much better. Turns out I was putting the ear pieces into my ears BACKWARDS which is why the one from ebay didn't seem to work! Now I have two working stethoscopes.

You want to laugh some more? I live in Ohio and in order to pass our skills test we don't even need to learn blood pressure!

Marie

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Thanks, that is a wonderful idea and that's exactly what I did!!!! I bought a Blood Pressure cuff and Stethoscope

Good luck on your getting good news soon! Keep us posted.

Do you want to laugh? I got a new blood pressure cuff and stethoscope on ebay. Didn't like how the stethoscope was working too well. I didn't feel it was "sensitive" enough to sound. So I went to Walmart and bought another stethoscope for $19.99. I found this one works much better. Turns out I was putting the ear pieces into my ears BACKWARDS which is why the one from ebay didn't seem to work! Now I have two working stethoscopes.

You want to laugh some more? I live in Ohio and in order to pass our skills test we don't even need to learn blood pressure!

Marie

P.S. Sorry for the duplication.

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Thanks, that is a wonderful idea and that's exactly what I did!!!! I bought a Blood Pressure cuff and Stethoscope

Good luck on your getting good news soon! Keep us posted.

Do you want to laugh? I got a new blood pressure cuff and stethoscope on ebay. Didn't like how the stethoscope was working too well. I didn't feel it was "sensitive" enough to sound. So I went to Walmart and bought another stethoscope for $19.99. I found this one works much better. Turns out I was putting the ear pieces into my ears BACKWARDS which is why the one from ebay didn't seem to work! Now I have two working stethoscopes.

You want to laugh some more? I live in Ohio and in order to pass our skills test we don't even need to learn blood pressure!

Marie

OMG!!!! that is funny!!!! Sounds like something I would do!!!! Thanks for your funny story and I really appreciate your support:cheers:!!!! I will let you know what happens--wish me luck!!! I am sure if I start CNA classes I will have some funny stories too because I have no experience in the medical field at all. I wish you the best!!!!

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Specializes in Emergency/ Critical Care.

ignore my post

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manual bp is very easy. well, i admit i didn't mastered it in school but when my mom freaked out and shouted at me that's where i really learned how to do it. i understand why she went ballistic because she was one of the top in the nursing board year 93 in the philippines but still, i kind of appreciate that i really learned one of the basic nursing skills that i will use for the rest of my life.

i don't know if it's just me but i really hate occupied bed making. if i have a choice, i'm going to choose an ambulatory patient or a vacant bed that needs to be prepared for a new patient. i can't seem to get it perfectly because it's very hard always telling the client "turn this way and that way" while he/she wrinkles my sheets XD

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I am confused at how youd taking a BP so difficult. Its a rather easy skill. :banghead:

I bet you were taught improperly. I bet you may be putting the earpieces in wrong.:stone:twocents:

I take BPs in a moving vehicle and get them accurately. :yawn:

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Specializes in OB - RN, nursing instructor.

As an instructor, 95% of my students have problems with blood pressures at first. The stethescopes at our school are very inexpensive and have the hard ear pieces that are hard to hear through. If you get a stethescope with soft ear pieces and make sure you turn the earpieces toward your nose, you will hear beter. Make sure they are IN the ear, not on the surface. In time, with a good stethescope and practice, this skill will become simple. Practice on everyone you can. Some people are harder to hear than others. This reading needs to be accurate and I can not suggest more strongly to buy a good stethescope (and put your name on it), you will not regret it.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
Denture care sucks

I can eat a ham sandwich with one hand and simultaneously hold and emesis basin for a patient while they vomit, but when it comes to cleaning dentures.... :no::barf02::barf01::barf01:

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