Help please..I`ve only been in the community placement for 3 days but I can`t get the hang of doing blood pressures.I can hear the distolic number but not the systolic...where am i going wrong xx

Hiya, do you have your own steth and spyhg?

I couldn't hear a thing at the start, and only mastered it by practising on anyone who came over!

You need to pump it up slowly,ensure you you have the stethoscope over the brachial artery, that it is open (the hole on the top) and you don't have your finger over it (all of these I did alot!)

Listen carefully and also watch the spyhg, the hand will also be 'bumping' to the beat. Keep listening and watching and when the sounds disappears you have the the diastolic.

DOes that make sense? and help?

Do you have skills for midwifery practice? their explanation really helped me get the hang of it too

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And don't panic, it can take a while for the whole process to sink in. I'm nearly qualified, but dependant on what stethascope is available to use, I still have days when it isn't easy to hear.

Just keep practising, it will come and then you will wonder why you didn't get it earlier. It's the same with most of the new things.
KS x

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Kentish Spitfire
Moderator, Student Services
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If you aren't hearing the systolic come in, are you pumping the cuff up enough?
Best way to do it is to find radial or brachial pulse, pump up cuff until the pulse disappears, then that gives you an approximate systolic. Then do your reading with the steth, and pump the cuff up about 20 above what you lost the pulse at (does that make sense, I am crap at explaining) as you have an idea then where that first bump is likely to come in.

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Also remember that some pregnant women dont have a definite diastolic. It just seems to cary on thudding, if so you need to take the reading at the 4th Korotkoff sound rather than the 5th. It will come with practice and it wont help if people in the room are talking, tell them to put a sock in it so you can hear

Keep at it and remember - practice makes perfect!!

dont worry u will get there i couldnt hear anything at first i think it just takes practice.

xx

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Leah xx

Thankyou all for your kind words of wisdom x when I get it i shall let you all know xx

hiya

dont panic youve only been on placement 3 days

it took me a bit to get the hang of it, i bought a syphg and stethascope it cost about £20 but i practiced on my poor hubby.

we have been told to pump the syhg 20mmHg above the booking pressure.

Like smwife said Skills for MW practice is a fab book it really does help

good luck hun xx

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Student Midwife jan 08

StudentMidwife.NET Moderator






Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

You WILL get the hang of it, it took me ages to get it, but when you do you never look back and it becomes so easy in the end you'll be amazed!

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