11/13/24, 6\:55 PM Guide | Blood pressure (BP) measurement

Blood pressure (BP) measurement

Table of contents
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Gather equipment

Gather the relevant equipment for measuring blood pressure\:
Stethoscope
Sphygmomanometer\: ensure you have an appropriately sized cu
that is too large will underestimate BP.

Introduction

Wash your hands and don PPE if appropriate.
Introduce yourself to the patient including your name and role.
Con
Brie
p r e s s u r e , t h i s w i l l i n v o l v e i n
s h o u l d n' t b e p a i n f u l , b u t i t m a y f e e l a l i t t l e u n c o m f o r t a b l e w h e n t h e c u
a n d n e e d l e s i n y o u r h a n d . I f a t a n y p o i n t y o u w a n t m e t o s t o p , j u s t l e t m e k n o w .
"
Gain consent to proceed with blood pressure measurement.
Position the patient sitting on a chair, with their arm comfortably placed at approximately heart level.
Check if the patient has a preference as to which arm to use. Avoid using an arm that has local pathology such as post-
mastectomy lymphoedema.
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Ask the patient to adequately expose their upper arm on the relevant side by rolling up their sleeve.
Check if the patient has any pain before proceeding with blood pressure measurement.
Wash your hands and don PPE if appropriate

Attaching the blood pressure cu

1. Check that the blood pressure cu
2. Con
epicondyle of the humerus.
3. Wrap the blood pressure cu
Attach the blood pressure cu
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Measuring blood pressure

Estimate an approximate systolic blood pressure

To begin with, you need to determine an approximate systolic blood pressure. This is helpful in preventing over-tightening of
the cu
1. Ensure the valve on the blood pressure cu
2. Palpate the patient’s radial pulse, located at the radial side of the wrist, with the tips of your index and middle
longitudinally over the course of the artery.
3. In
sphygmomanometer at the point at which the radial pulse becomes impalpable. This reading is an approximate estimate of the
patient's systolic blood pressure.
4. Open the valve and de
Palpate the radial pulse

Measure the blood pressure accurately

Now that you have an approximate systolic pressure, you can perform an accurate assessment of systolic and diastolic blood
pressure.
1. Close the valve on the blood pressure cu
2. Position the diaphragm of your stethoscope over the brachial artery.
3. Re-in
4. Then slowly de
5. Using your stethoscope, listen carefully for the onset of a pulsatile noise. The

pressure.
6. Continue to de

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7. If the patient's blood pressure is outside of the normal range you should repeat the assessment on the same arm after a few
minutes and also consider assessing blood pressure using the patient's other arm.
Position the stethoscope over the brachial artery
Blood pressure abnormalities
Blood pressure abnormalities may include\:
Hypertension\: blood pressure of greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg if under 80 years old or greater than or equal
to 150/90 mmHg if you're over 80 years old.
Hypotension\: blood pressure of less than 90/60 mmHg.
Narrow pulse pressure\: less than 25 mmHg of di
include aortic stenosis, congestive heart failure and cardiac tamponade.
Wide pulse pressure\: more than 100 mmHg of di
include aortic regurgitation and aortic dissection.
Di
suggest aortic dissection.

To complete the procedure...

Once a blood pressure recording has been obtained, remove the blood pressure cu
Explain to the patient that the procedure is now complete.
Discuss the blood pressure results with the patient, including any further steps that may need to occur (e.g. follow-up, further
investigations, initiation of treatment).
Thank the patient for their time.
Dispose of PPE appropriately and wash your hands.
Document the lowest blood pressure recording in the patient's notes.
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Reviewer

Dr Lewis Potter
GP
Source\: geekymedics.com
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