Bad news.

Well, I had my nursing assessment final last night. I did not pass. I should qualify that - I passed everything except the diastolic number of the blood pressure. I just couldn't hear it. I don't know what the problem was. I'd been on a tractor for several hours close to the time of the exam, but I have no idea if that affected how I was hearing. I was diagnosed with mild hearing loss in January at my physical, but it hadn't caused me problems with taking BP's all semester. I went to the lab many times to practice on the mannequins (the same ones I was tested on), and my readings were always either right on or within 2 mm's Hg. In the clinical, I was checked by instructor, classmates, and the electronic BP machine many times, and my readings were fine. Last night, though... I could hear the systolic but not the diastolic - I consistently called it too soon. What does this mean? It means that I have to go back in a week after the final lecture exam and do another BP. If I don't hear it, I fail the entire course. I have made an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow to have my ears rechecked and possibly irrigated. I am looking into buying a (very expensive - $200 - $400) amplifying stethoscope. And I am practicing. There isn't much else I can do. I am scared to death that I am going to fail. I can't believe it is coming down to something like this. I guess that's all for now. If you are so inclined, I would appreciate your prayers. Good thoughts are welcome too. Until later, ta.