Blood Pressure!!!

[Guest26407]

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When YOu take blood pressure readings do YOu record the number when the needle jumps or do you wait until you hear the 1st beat?

When I did a BP the needle jumped at 140 but didnt beat until 130 which one do I record?

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

We were taught to count when you hear the first beat.

[RN 2005]

Yup, same here. The first beat..... :)

[Achoo!, LPN]

what you hear. Also, sometimes you can hear it beat all the way down to zero, and I was told to document it when you hear it change and get softer, so it could read 130/72/0.

[belladelicious]

Listen for that first LOUD beat. Don't even look at the gauge until you're familiar with that sound. The needle jumping thing is wrong.

[nekhismom]

yep, first beat. Sometimes if I see the needle jump at a high # on a pt. I know has a hx of HTN, I will wait a few minutes and do it again. but then again, I have a hearing deficit, so I try to make sure I am hearing the right thing.