Blood Pressure

• Blood Pressure Equipment


  Equipment used to measure blood pressure
• Blood Pressure Equipment


  • Blood Pressure Cuff
  • Blood Pressure Dial
  • Stethoscope
• Blood Pressure Cuff


  • Inflatable cuff, various sizes
• Blood Pressure Cuff Size


  • Small adult (22 - 26 cm)
  • Regular adult (27 - 34 cm)
  • Large adult (35 - 44 cm)
  • Adult thigh (42 - 52 cm)
• Blood Pressure Dial


  Aneroid manometer with even increments, BP recorded in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), Mechanism for inflation is manually operated bulb
• Stethoscope


  Used to hear Korotkoff sounds during BP measurement
• Blood Pressure Technique


  1. Introduction & Screening Questions

  2. Prepare Patient for BP Reading

  3. Prepare Equipment

  4. Palpate Brachial Artery

  5. Place Cuff Appropriately

  6. Estimate Systolic Pressure

  7. Determine the Patient's BP
• Utilize proper technique for BP measurements based on the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA)
• Blood Pressure Documentation


  BP in even numbers with units, Arm used, Patient position, Cuff size
• Blood Pressure Classification


  • Normal
  • Elevated
  • Hypertension Stage 1
  • Hypertension Stage 2
• Individuals with SBP and DBP in 2 different categories should be designated to the higher BP category for classification
• BP classification should optimally be based on an average of greater or equal to 2 careful readings obtained on greater than or equal to 2 occasions.
• Factors Affecting BP


  • Improper technique
  • Improper cuff size
  • White coat effect
  • Caffeine, nicotine, or exercise within 30 minutes of BP
  • Nonadherence with BP medications
• Too small cuff artificially high BP, Too large cuff artificially low BP