i cant hear sounds when taking blood pressure for patients

[phenom832]

so got a new job at the hospital and part of it is taking blood pressure while they say they are going to train me so im good at it i want to get some tips and tricks. At university we only did in like one day for a little amount of time so i wasnt able to become very good at it, So i know you pump up the cuff listen for the first sound and then the second sound as it deflates right??

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[Ismet]

so got a new job at the hospital and part of it is taking blood pressure while they say they are going to train me so im good at it i want to get some tips and tricks. At university we only did in like one day for a little amount of time so i wasnt able to become very good at it, So i know you pump up the cuff listen for the first sound and then the second sound as it deflates right??

🙄 Google is your friend. Or just wait for them to teach you.

You listen for both "sounds" on the deflate. Systolic (top number) is when you first start hearing the Korotcoff sounds. Diastolic (bottom number) is when you stop hearing the sounds.

 

[milkandcereal]

You pump it to the point that you don't hear any flow (occluding the artery). Then as you slowly release, you listen for the first sound (this is recorded as the systolic pressure). You continue to release the pressure until you know longer hear the sound (this is recorded as diastolic pressure).

It just takes practice, not really too difficult at all. Just make sure that you align the artery marker on the cuff with the brachial artery, which I'm sure they'll show you how to do. Good luck with your new job!

 

[AdrianVeidt]

Hospitals don't have automatic monitors anymore? wtf

 

[Geebeejay]

Hospitals don't have automatic monitors anymore? wtf

Only units with telemetry.

Follow the advice of the others. If you have a tough time getting a patient's bp, try to palpate the brachial pulse and place the stethoscope there. I also find it helpful to place my elbow (same arm as the one holding the stethoscope) in the patient's hand to make sure his antecubital and hand are facing forward. This is helpful when the patient is hypotensive with a thready pulse and a bp is really hard to auscultate.

 

[phenom832]

so got a new job at the hospital and part of it is taking blood pressure while they say they are going to train me so im good at it i want to get some tips and tricks. At university we only did in like one day for a little amount of time so i wasnt able to become very good at it, I tried today and it seemed all a muffled sound i kinda got it in the right range but like it was more of a guess.. The stethoscopes the coworkers said are cheap but anyways what can i do to help my case. This is a big part of my job so i need to figure this out. I ordered my own stethoscope to practice hearing things but any tips?

 

[phenom832]

so got a new job at the hospital and part of it is taking blood pressure while they say they are going to train me so im good at it i want to get some tips and tricks. At university we only did in like one day for a little amount of time so i wasnt able to become very good at it, I tried today and it seemed all a muffled sound i kinda got it in the right range but like it was more of a guess.. The stethoscopes the coworkers said are cheap but anyways what can i do to help my case. This is a big part of my job so i need to figure this out. I ordered my own stethoscope to practice hearing things but any tips?

 

[phenom832]

so got a new job at the hospital and part of it is taking blood pressure while they say they are going to train me so im good at it i want to get some tips and tricks. At university we only did in like one day for a little amount of time so i wasnt able to become very good at it, I tried today and it seemed all a muffled sound i kinda got it in the right range but like it was more of a guess.. The stethoscopes the coworkers said are cheap but anyways what can i do to help my case. This is a big part of my job so i need to figure this out. I ordered my own stethoscope to practice hearing things but any tips?

 

[Lambda Phage]

Steal one of those automated machines from Wal-Mart

 

[deleted550985]

Looks like you posted the same thread 3 days ago here, and a couple of other times on other subforums:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=1022931

Why? Just use Google.

 

[acceptmeplease]

Make sure your cuff is about an inch
above a/c... Make sure the diaphragm of the scope is snug against the skin.... Make sure your ear pieces for the scope are pointing forward (away from you)... Also, ensure that you are holding the scope in a manner which doesn't cause extra noise... Here is a good link

http://www.mypatraining.com/stethoscope-and-how-to-use-it

 

[image187]

so got a new job at the hospital and part of it is taking blood pressure while they say they are going to train me so im good at it i want to get some tips and tricks. At university we only did in like one day for a little amount of time so i wasnt able to become very good at it, I tried today and it seemed all a muffled sound i kinda got it in the right range but like it was more of a guess.. The stethoscopes the coworkers said are cheap but anyways what can i do to help my case. This is a big part of my job so i need to figure this out. I ordered my own stethoscope to practice hearing things but any tips?

the trick is to not have a crappy stethoscope and then to practice many many times, making sure to pump up the initial pressure more than enough. Even with a crappy stethoscope you should be able to do it with time. You'll eventually get it.

 

[Jennyfishy]

so got a new job at the hospital and part of it is taking blood pressure while they say they are going to train me so im good at it i want to get some tips and tricks. At university we only did in like one day for a little amount of time so i wasnt able to become very good at it, I tried today and it seemed all a muffled sound i kinda got it in the right range but like it was more of a guess.. The stethoscopes the coworkers said are cheap but anyways what can i do to help my case. This is a big part of my job so i need to figure this out. I ordered my own stethoscope to practice hearing things but any tips?

If you can locate the brachial artery on yourself and another person without blindly guessing, you're already halfway there (look at a few anatomy charts, play around with your own arm for a bit).

Put the stethoscope part on top of it, and wrap the cuff around (this will vary, depending on the design of your sphygmomanometer. It should pretty much be slightly closer to the medial side of your bicep, near the fold between your arm/forearm.

Pump that sucker up to 150 mmHg or so (make sure the pump is closed), and slowly let out air until you hear the first sound, then keep listening until you hear one final/faint thump.

For a healthy person, you should hear something around 100-130 for the first sound (systolic), and anywhere from 50-90 for the 2nd sound (diastolic).

You can easily practice on yourself, and the only way to get better is to practice though 😛

 

[talinnlove]

Steal one of those automated machines from Wal-Mart

🤣

 

[acceptmeplease]

If you can locate the brachial artery on yourself and another person without blindly guessing, you're already halfway there (look at a few anatomy charts, play around with your own arm for a bit).

Put the stethoscope part on top of it, and wrap the cuff around (this will vary, depending on the design of your sphygmomanometer. It should pretty much be slightly closer to the medial side of your bicep, near the fold between your arm/forearm.

Pump that sucker up to 150 mmHg or so (make sure the pump is closed), and slowly let out air until you hear the first sound, then keep listening until you hear one final/faint thump.

For a healthy person, you should hear something around 100-130 for the first sound (systolic), and anywhere from 50-90 for the 2nd sound (diastolic).

You can easily practice on yourself, and the only way to get better is to practice though 😛

Haha too many hypertensive people out there :/.

I forgot to mention a two-step approach...

If you're following all of this advice and still are barely hearing anything, the patient could have hypertension. So the first step would be to palpate the radial artery while inflating the cuff...

Record the pressure at which the pulse disappears.

Then, after a minute or so take b/p by inflating the cuff 30mmhg higher than the occluded pressure... This will give you an appropriate starting point with plenty of time for your ears to adjust.

 

[Jennyfishy]

Haha too many hypertensive people out there :/.

I forgot to mention a two-step approach...

If you're following all of this advice and still are barely hearing anything, the patient could have hypertension. So the first step would be to palpate the radial artery while inflating the cuff...

Record the pressure at which the pulse disappears.

Then, after a minute or so take b/p by inflating the cuff 30mmhg higher than the occluded pressure... This will give you an appropriate starting point with plenty of time for your ears to adjust.

xD of course, just giving the bare minimum that you would need to (hopefully) get at least one good reading, assuming you have a cookie-cutter type patient

 

[Strudel19]

You're wearing the earpiece the wrong way. Flip them around so that they are angled forward. If they are angled backwards 100% of the sound is muted. You should be able to hear things fine with a cheap stethoscope.

 

[ericksonj15]

.

 

[somedical]

What is your job title at the hospital? What stethoscope do you have?

 

[Dynamo24]

Is the bell turned in the correct direction? Not to be condescending but its a common mistake. Also continue to practice on yourself and anyone who will let you.

 

[Dejavu]

Make sure you don't press the bell of the scope down too hard in an attempt to hear better. It can have the opposite effect.

Just light pressure will be best.

Also, make sure the stethescope is in your ears properly or the buds will be up against your ear wall and blunt the sounds. Look at your scopes ear buds. They should point forward away from you as you put them in.

 

[AnnoyedByFreud]

1. Buy a quality stethoscope.

2. Make sure you are using it correctly.

3. Get your own cuff and practice on yourself/anyone else until you get it.