Automatic B/P machines...should I buy my own?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Quite a few of the nurses where I work at have their own automatic B/P machines. Most residents don't have their B/P taken daily but some days I will have 10+ residents that I need to take B/P on (most people are weekly). I am already limited in the amount of time I have to do everything. The manual cuff we have doesn't work that well and can take a long time. The B/P machines that the nurses use are the ones that go around the wrist. I thought those aren't as accurate. Does anyone else bring their own B/P machines to work? What kind do you use and how much did it cost?

Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

Only a few patients have daily B/P. And a few have B/P q shift. Many of them have weekly B/P but they all seem to fall on the same day. Doing manual B/P on 15 patients takes a while and the manual B/P cuff doesn't seem to work well. I mentioned to my supervisor about our equipment not working or not having enough equipment (like one pulse ox for the entire floor of 60 patients and many on O2). She said something about how they used to have enough working machines but something happened to them. Doesn't that mean you should buy more???? I don't get it. I think I may have to talk to the ADON or DON about it. They said we should feel free to talk to them about any problems we are having ;)

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

The automatic wrist cuffs are very position sensitive, if placed right they work great, if off by even a little bit they aren't accurate. I have an automatic arm cuff that is a life saver. Very accurate and easy to use. I find most manual cuffs provided by the faculity are out of calibration, therefore are useless. I also have my own thermometer, easier than looking all over for the 1 they provide for 48 patients, you just have to remember to wash it after each use. Bandage scissors are like gold, but they always develop legs and wander away like a confused LOL. I have my own along with my stethascope and mirror for looking at those hard to see wounds. Cost of BP Cuff $40.00, Cost of Sissors $5.00, Cost of Thermometer $10.00, Cost of Mirror $3.00, Time saved by not having to look for tools ... Priceless!

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The "wrist" type works wonders esp. for contracted residents and those I have trouble getting a reading on. For the most part I use the manual.

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Why does it take longer to take a manual than it does to use a machine? Same amout of time to apply the cuff and the time that it takes for the machine to work you are still waiting for the results vs listening to them yourself?

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Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.
Why does it take longer to take a manual than it does to use a machine? Same amout of time to apply the cuff and the time that it takes for the machine to work you are still waiting for the results vs listening to them yourself?

Because I can do something else while the machine is working. For example one resident has B/P Q shift. I usually start the machine and then hook up and start her feeding while the machine is taking her B/P. If I'm not super busy I take the BP manually but some shifts are just crazy and you need every spare second.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
The automatic wrist cuffs are very position sensitive, if placed right they work great, if off by even a little bit they aren't accurate. I have an automatic arm cuff that is a life saver. Very accurate and easy to use. I find most manual cuffs provided by the faculity are out of calibration, therefore are useless. I also have my own thermometer, easier than looking all over for the 1 they provide for 48 patients, you just have to remember to wash it after each use. Bandage scissors are like gold, but they always develop legs and wander away like a confused LOL. I have my own along with my stethascope and mirror for looking at those hard to see wounds. Cost of BP Cuff $40.00, Cost of Sissors $5.00, Cost of Thermometer $10.00, Cost of Mirror $3.00, Time saved by not having to look for tools ... Priceless!

You use the same thermometer for all the residents? The DPH would most likely cite that in this state. Do you have a written P&P for its use and cleaning?

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Because I can do something else while the machine is working. For example one resident has B/P Q shift. I usually start the machine and then hook up and start her feeding while the machine is taking her B/P. If I'm not super busy I take the BP manually but some shifts are just crazy and you need every spare second.

I'm all for time saving but it srsly takes about a minute to do a bp (unless they are contracted and you are fighting with them to put the cuff on)

I just think it is more acurate (unless you are able to calibrate the elec cuffs) getting a maunal with the same type of cuffs. At least at our place, we've had issues with CNAs using different cuffs and getting some wacky readings. I've had to co along and recheck them with a reg cuff and almost always get a different reading.

Another thing I notice...getting away from the actual skill.

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I like the arm cuffs with the digital readers b/c I don't always trust what I'm hearing with the stethoscope.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I'd trust my ears over a machine with batteries any day. When I was in nursing school, IV pumps were just starting to come out. The best one was called the IVAC. The older nurse on the floor would say..."I trust my EYEball..not the IVAC". Taking blood pressures shouldn't be a lost art.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I can usually do a BP by auscultation faster than our machines do them.

However, I believe that a well-designed machine will be more repeatable than most people. I'm not so sure about the consumer models, though.

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Specializes in Hem/Onc/BMT.
I'd trust my ears over a machine with batteries any day. When I was in nursing school, IV pumps were just starting to come out. The best one was called the IVAC. The older nurse on the floor would say..."I trust my EYEball..not the IVAC". Taking blood pressures shouldn't be a lost art.

I'll second that.

I used to use those wrist cuff ones, but soon abandoned the idea after realizing how inaccurate the reading with high or low BP's. Then I bought arm cuff automatic machine which I liked better but too many people complained it was too tight. And so eventually, I invested in a decent manual cuff of my own, which I needed anyway for upcoming nursing school. After getting in the habit of using the manual, I realized how fast I could be -- not even a minute. And since I know most people's BP range, I know how much to inflate, and not hurt them too much.

During a recent meeting, our DON officially banned all the wrist cuffs citing the inaccuracy and calibration issue, so I was glad that I made the switch already. Now we have BP cuff in each med cart, but considering how things always go missing in that place, I feel better having my own BP cuff.

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