BP in arm with PICC?

[light4j]

Hi- I'm currently half way through nursing school and also work as a CNA in hospitals. We're finishing up learning about central lines/PICCs etc., and I know that you're not supposed to use an arm with a PICC to take the BP, or so I was taught and have always though. But, I'm working with a nurse tonight who said you could take the BP in the arm as long as it's below the PICC, so in the forearm- is this allowed? I've heard differing opinions- what's the right answer?

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

We tell our nurses to avoid taking the BP in the PICC arm....but the reality is sometimes we do not have a choice and we take them below the PICC site. We often have bilateral PICCs in or an AV graft in one arm and a PICC in the other and try to find a BP cuff large enough for some of our pts legs...it is not happening.....So make the best decision you can with all the variables thrown at you I have learned that in nursing that is what you have to do sometimes...Get all the facts first and then make the best decision you can

[november17, ASN, RN]

Even taking it in the forearm could increase the pressure above the cuff creating problems for the PICC.

What kind of problems? that's a pretty vague answer there