Blood Pressure!!!

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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?

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

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

RN 2005

237 Posts

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

Achoo!, LPN

1,749 Posts

Specializes in Urgent Care.

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

112 Posts

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

1,104 Posts

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.

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