Taking BP on pt. with pacemaker

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatric, Hospice.

I've heard both sides, that it is NOT OK, and some say that it is. (I do not recall learning about this in school, although I do avoid the left arm if pt does have a pacemaker, I guess instinctively). Is it still evidence-based to restrict taking BP's on the left arm with a pacemaker on the left side? I cannot find anything online regarding this.. I want to know what nurses here have to say ;)

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I haven't had any problems using my left arm for BP. The device is n the left chest in a pocket where it floats and the leads are tapped into veins leading to the heart from there. There isn't anything in the arm that would be compressed by a cuff.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

my dad has a pacemaker and always checks his own BP, no issues with it.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

No issues that I know of. we do it where I work.

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I've never had issues using the left arm either. We didn't avoid the left arm even when I worked on a cardiac unit.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Cat_LPN said:
I've heard both sides, that it is NOT OK, and some say that it is. (I do not recall learning about this in school, although I do avoid the left arm if pt does have a pacemaker, I guess instinctively). Is it still evidence-based to restrict taking BP's on the left arm with a pacemaker on the left side? I cannot find anything online regarding this.. I want to know what nurses here have to say ;)

Evidence-based? I don't think it ever has been an evidence-based precaution. There is nothing anywhere near the left arm to avoid.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

When I worked cardiac, I only avoided the left arm if it was a fresh implant, simply because the left chest is already tender, and those automatic cuffs can squeeze like the dickens. Probably makes no difference, but I felt better.

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Nothing taught a out that back in paramedic school either, and they are seriously into detailed cardiac-related issues.

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Specializes in Med/Surg and ANCC RN-BC.

I've never had a problem taking a blood pressure with someone who has a pacemaker. If it makes you feel more comfortable to do the other arm, then go for it. When I go into a patient's room I always make sure that there isn't a sign or something in the chart that specifically says do not take BPs, IVs, ect on this arm.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatric, Hospice.
roser13 said:
Evidence-based? I don't think it ever has been an evidence-based precaution. There is nothing anywhere near the left arm to avoid.

I didn't think so. I was just asking since 2 people I work with thought I was crazy for not having heard of it before. I was worried I'd missed something really important somehow! Guess it was never evidence based!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatric, Hospice.

I wonder where these nurses ever learned that now. Seems to me the consensus is 'no', that there is no known harm to do so. I honestly couldn't think of any myself, but that doesn't always mean anything since I'm a new nurse ;)

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Virgo_RN said:
When I worked cardiac, I only avoided the left arm if it was a fresh implant, simply because the left chest is already tender, and those automatic cuffs can squeeze like the dickens. Probably makes no difference, but I felt better.

+1 and a couple more characters to reach the minimum message length

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