Blood pressure is the force exerted on the walls of the arteries by the blood as it flows through them. The unit for measuring blood pressure is millimetres of mercury(mmHg).
There are two ways on how to take blood pressure in nursing: either using manual blood pressure machines or automatic blood pressure machines. But most doctors prefer the blood pressure taken with a manual blood pressure machine
Table of Contents on how to take blood pressure in nursing
Common terms used in blood pressure
- Systolic pressure is the pressure exerted on the artery when the heart contracts.
- Diastolic pressure is the pressure exerted on the artery wall when the heart relaxes
- Hypertension is blood pressure above normal
Factors affecting blood pressure
- Force of the ventricular construction, as the left ventricle contracts to push blood into the aorta
- Arterial wall elasticity. A healthy elastic artery expands as the heart contracts, absorbing the shock of systolic pressure. When the arterial wall is hard and thick, it is very difficult for the artery to expand normally.
- Peripheral vascular resistance due to thick blood or the narrowing of the blood vessels
- Position when sitting, lying or standing.
Normal blood pressure ranges
- Systolic 100 to 130 mmHg
- Diastolic 60 to 80 mmHg
Machines used for taking blood pressure in nursing
These are machines that can detect and measure the blood pressure in the body
Sphygmomanometer or blood pressure machine.
It is the machine used to measure blood pressure manually.
It consists of three words, that is;
- Sphygmo, which means pulse
- Meter, which means measure
- Mano, which means pressure
Types of sphygmomanometers
- Mercury manometer
- Aneroid
Stethoscope
It is an instrument used to listen for the beat when taking blood pressure manually.
Other uses of a stethoscope
It is used for listening for sounds.
- Chest for air entry
- Heart for the heart beat
- The sound of the air entry in the stomach after passing the nasogastric tube
- Bowel sound after laparotomy.
- The fetal heart in pregnant mothers
Requirement for taking manual blood pressure.
Material use during and after taking the blood pressure
A tray containing
- Sphygmomanometer
- Stethoscope
- Pen
- Patient file
Procedure for measuring blood pressure manually in nursing
- Explain the procedure to the patient to obtain his or her consent and build trust.
- Screen the bed to provide privacy
- Bring the tray near the patient’s bedside for easy accesses
- Position the patient in a lying or sitting up position
- Wash your hands and put on gloves
- Make sure that there is no tight clothing around the arm for accurate reading
- Apply the sphygmomanometer cuff evenly and firmly around the patient’s arm above the elbow
- Feel for the branchial pulse at the elbow by using the first three fingers over it
- Place the bell of the stethoscope over the patient’s arm and support it
- Position the earpieces in your ears
- Inflate the cuff until 180mmhg
- Slowly release the pressure using the valve
- Note the first sound, which is a systolic pressure
- Note the last sound, which is a diastolic pressure
- Give the findings to the patient
- Thank and leave the patient comfortably
- Wash hand
- Record the temperature in the patient’s chart
Advantages of taking blood pressure in nursing
- Helps in detecting hypertension early and the early initiation of treatments
- Prevents serious complications like stroke
- Help in monitoring patient health status
- Guides treatment and medication, which one to avoid and the patient’s advice
- Detects hypotension.
Advantages of Using Manual Blood Pressure Machines
- More accurate when used correctly.
- Does not need electricity or batteries
- It is cheaper compared to electronic
- It is easy to maintain
- can be use for a long period of time
Disadvantages of Using Manual Blood Pressure Machines
- It requires training to give a proper blood pressure reading
- It is time-consuming. Only one patient can take up 10 to 20 minutes, especially the malnourished.
- It requires a stethoscope to be able to listen to the systolic and diastolic pressure
- It prompts an error, e.g., if the cuff is not placed well
- can lead to ear problems like noise trauma if you have many patients.
- The patient can not use it alone
- Mercury Hazards: Mercury sphygmomanometers can be dangerous if broken