Skill 23* — Measures and Records Manual Blood Pressure

Step 1

Explains procedure, speaking clearly, slowly, and directly, maintaining face-to-face contact whenever possible

Step 2

Before using stethoscope, wipes bell/diaphragm and earpieces of stethoscope with alcohol

Step 3

Client’s arm is positioned with palm up and upper arm is exposed

Step 4

Feels for brachial artery on inner aspect of arm, at bend of elbow

Step 5

Places blood pressure cuff snugly on client’s upper arm, with sensor/arrow over brachial artery site

Step 6

Earpieces of stethoscope are in ears and bell/diaphragm is over brachial artery sit

Step 7

Candidate inflates cuff between 160mm Hg to 180 mm Hg. If beat heard immediately upon cuff deflation, completely deflate cuff. Re-inflate cuff to no more than 200 mm Hg.

Step 8

Deflates cuff slowly and notes the first sound (systolic reading), and last sound (diastolic reading) (If rounding needed, measurements are rounded UP to the nearest 2 mm of mercury).

Step 9

Removes cuff

Step 10

Signaling device is within reach

Step 11

Before recording, washes hands

Step 12:BOLD

After obtaining reading using BP cuff and stethoscope, records both systolic and diastolic pressures each within plus or minus 8 mm of evaluator’s reading.