GE wireless dash 4000 NIBP monitors

HyperTension · Dec 13, 2009

Curious: Whats your / unit's definition of "hypotensive". I know that seems like a short-bus question, but you would be amazed at the variety of answers given.

If this is something new / change in trends, I absolutely would say get a manual BP to confirm what the machine says. Do I think that this would be something focal to a generation of machines..... probably not. There is nothing wrong with obtaining an old-fashioned BP if you don't trust / like the readings given in relation to what your patient is doing.

Bear in mind that your NIBP monitors are more sensitive to pressure changes (A-fib, cuff size, muscle mass, tissue between the cuff and the artery, muscle tremors, elevation of extremity over heart and so forth) vs. stethoscope / manual cuff pressure.

I have a tendency to even get a Q2 / Q4 NIBP reading even with a pt. having an A-Line for trends (what happens when your line goes bad, and you have a significant change with an NIBP reading?).

Not sure if this help, this is more a global answer to your monitor specific question.

allnurses Guide · Dec 19, 2009

Thank you.

I haven't worked with those NIB wirelss machines. The measurement is sent like telemetry and recorded permanently until someone DC's the patient.

I told her taking manual pressures that night seemed right. And to check with her charge nurse and colleagues on the unit. Maybe biotech should be called. I'm in CCU/SICU. She is in a medical ICU with these new (to them) machines. I haven't used them yet.

The SBP was aroung 80 on drips. The computer readout didn't show a reading at all when SBP was below 80. To look at the computer you would think no BP was taken, yet the cuff inflated and s-l-o-w-l-y deflated. And no alarm sounded.