Blood Pressure

Question 1

Step 1?

Answer 1

Wash hands
Introduction
Explanation and consent

Question 2

How would you explain the procedure?

Answer 2

“I will be inflating a cuff around your upper arm, it will feel like a tight band around your arm but it shouldn’t last too long. is this ok?”

Question 3

Step 2?

Answer 3

Prepare the sphygmomanometer by facing the dial towards you and making sure it is on level with the patients heart

Make sure cuff is deflated

Make sure dial is zero’d

Question 4

Step 3?

Answer 4

Ask patient to expose their upper arm and get comfortable

Question 5

Step 4?

Answer 5

Locate the brachial pulse
Attach the cuff above the pulse with arrow facing the pulse
Close the valve one handed

Question 6

Step 5?

Answer 6

Estimate the systolic pressure by inflating cuff and noting the figure at which the pulse disappears

Question 7

What can be done if brachial artery is difficult to palpate?

Answer 7

Use radial instead

Question 8

Why do we estimate the systolic pressure?

Answer 8

To make sure there is no auscultatory gap that can mislead and give us wrong results

Question 9

Step 6?

Answer 9

Pump cuff up to 30mmHg above the estimated systolic pressure and locate the systolic and diastolic pressures

When small repeated beats appear this is systolic
When beats disappear this is diastolic pressure

Question 10

What should be done to conclude?

Answer 10

Thank the patient
Help make the comfortable
Clean hands