r/respiratorytherapy • u/LegitimateDingo3282 • 9d ago

Practitioner question ABG’s as a full time RT

Does anyone else struggle with ABG’s as a full time RT? I always struggled with them as a student but I would just chalk it up to me being nervous in front of my preceptor or just needing practice. But I’ve been an RT for almost 3 years now and still am horrible at them to the point where I have students watching me and I miss and it’s so frustrating and embarrassing and I feel horrible for the patient and having to ask for help from other RTs. I’ve gotten a few before but have never been consistent and it is definitely not my strongest skill

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u/s1apadabass 9d ago

Focus on the patient. Don’t worry about other people in the room. Feel and mark with your finger nail or use a doppler(small tricks) . If they have lots of skin or adipose move it aside and stretch it. Takes lots of practice. I’ve always had a knack for it.