Digital BP monitor for home use.

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Hi everyone!

I know it may not be quite "nursing" question but i thought you might help me here.

I need to buy a digital BP monitor for my grandma to use at home(not the one that goes on a wrist, but regular-above elbow).

Maybe you know from your own experience/hospital practice which brand of BP monitors is good?

I want something of a good quality which will show real measurements of grandma's BP and will last for some time.

Thank you

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There are many brands out there, and people buy the ones easiest to use. Make sure it's one with a cuff that can be applied with one hand. My parents have one by HomeMedics and they love it.

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Thanks:)

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i have an omron that I"ve had for years.

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

Just a comment...

We have had many pt's come into the ED because they got a reading of 49/23 or 234/76 (just examples). These machines can give off readings at times (as do ours in the ED). My point is if someone in your family is going to use it make sure to do some teaching on positioning of both the cuff and the limb it's attached to and to recheck after getting a possibly skewed result. Also the importance of SYMPTOMATIC hypertension or hypotension and some easy interventions they can do at home (ie hold their metoprolol and call their doc).

Another point is that each machine will be a little different so if they check their BP at home then go to the drug store and it's higher or lower there...they need to know that it's best to use the same machine, looking at trends with only one bp cuff.

I don't think there is near enough teaching on Hypertension/Hypotension s/s ...there is tons and tons of diabetic education but BP can be just as dangerous. Spend some extra time with those pt's who seem to not really understand the dangers of their BP.

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larry, good points!

I should have mentioned in my post that I took my omron to the doctor, and took my b/p there and compared it to the doctor's reading so I could see any discrepancies.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

How old is your grandma? I actually think the bp cuff with a stethescope attached is a lot more accurate. I take my own like that. If she can hear the heartbeats it might be better than an electronic one-and cheaper too-about $12.

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