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Specializes in nursing home care.

Just wondering, if you checked a BP with an electrical device and it appeared very low but the patient was looking fine and talking etc, would you then check again with electric sphyg or a manual one. A nurse I know checked again with an electric device and proceeded to call an ambulance.... I think I would have double checked with a manual device as electric devices are prone to faults, especially since the man looked fine, was talking and laughing etc. Incidentally BP recorded on elctric as 80/40

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Yep - I always check manually! I work with chronic dialysis patients and some BPs that we get on the machine are just ridiculous. Another thing, you treat the patient, not the number. You're right.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I just always use a manual. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I still prefer the manual ones. Just my 2 cents worth!

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Just wondering, if you checked a BP with an electrical device and it appeared very low but the patient was looking fine and talking etc, would you then check again with electric sphyg or a manual one. A nurse I know checked again with an electric device and proceeded to call an ambulance.... I think I would have double checked with a manual device as electric devices are prone to faults, especially since the man looked fine, was talking and laughing etc. Incidentally BP recorded on elctric as 80/40

No question, I would have rechecked with a manual BP and assessed heart and circulatory areas as well.

What was DX? Need to check for bruie's? Carotids? What meds are involved?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Call Center RN.

You are correct. If the electric one shows a reading that is way out there, I would always go straight to doing it the old way. Technology is not always foolproof. The batteries may need replacing, any number of things. Specially if the patient is not having any symptoms. What did EMS say when they got there?

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Specializes in Med Surg, Mental Health & Addictions.

Yes I would have checked the patients BP manually.:)

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Specializes in OB, Med-Surg.

Always recheck manually. Always.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
:idea: Manually,:idea: Manually,:idea: Manually!!!!!
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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

I prefer the manual,the patient only has to move to knock the digital ones wrong and most of ours are so confused they won't keep still!

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Yes. Those electronic blood pressure monitors are prone to mistakes. I would've checked it again manually. Sometimes, the good Ol' Fashioned way is best!

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.

:icon_roll would have checked manually. i always check manuaully if i get a wacky reading from a machine! better to double check machines are not humans and not always correct!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

It is against our policy to use the wrist cuffs for blood pressures. Of course I'd check it manually and decide based on symptoms whether or not the patient needed to be sent out. I was a patient once....student nurse came in, checked my blood pressure, shouted OH MY GOD!!! and ran out of the room. She dragged her instructor back in the room and was hysterical because my blood pressure was 80/60. My pressure is low to begin with and I had been in bed for 2 days doing nothing. Lucky for her I didn't freak out with the OH MY GOD and calmly told her I was fine. I did tell her that shouting OH MY GOD and running from the room wasn't really an appropriate response.

We need to rely on our assessment skills and not a piece of machinery.

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