 |
 |
|
|
|
|
1. Prepare. The patient (or client) should be seated or lying down. If the patient has not been injured in an accident, support her arm at the level of her heart.2. Place the cuff and find the radial pulse. Apply the cuff snugly around the upper arm so that the bottoms of the cuff is just above the elbow. Then find the radial pulse on the arm to which the blood pressure cuff has been applied.
Measuring blood pressure by palpation.
3. Inflate the cuff. Make certain that the adjustable valve is closed on the bulb and inflate the cuff to a point where you can no longer feel the radial pulse. Note this point on the gauge and continue to inflate the cuff 30 mm of mercury beyond this point.
4. Obtain and record the systolic pressure. Slowly deflate the cuff, noting the reading at which the radial pulse returns. This reading is the patient's systolic pressure. Record your findings as, for example, "blood pressure 140 by palpation" or "140/P" and the time of the determination. (You cannot determine a diastolic reading by palpation.)
If you are not certain of a reading, repeat the procedure. You should use the other arm or wait one minute before re-inflating the cuff. Otherwise, you will tend to obtain an erroneously high reading. If you are still not sure of the reading you are getting, try again or get some help. Never make up vital signs!
A blood pressure can be obtained on patients (clients) more than 3 years old. Blood pressures on infants and children younger than 3 years are difficult to obtain with any accuracy outside of a health care institution. In the field, client's home, or midwife's or health care provider's office, you can get more helpful information about the condition of an infant or very young child by observing for conditions such as a sick appearance, respiratory distress, or unconsciousness.
Vital signs are usually taken more than once. How frequently they should be repeated depends on the condition of the patient and the patient care interventions you are performing. Stable patients need repeat vital signs at least every 15 minutes. Unstable patients need repeat vital signs at least every 5 minutes. You should also repeat vital signs after every medical intervention. Record every reading of the vital signs.
Taking systolic/diastolic blood pressure with stethoscope.