How frequent BP's on vasoactive meds?

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Specializes in ER/Critical Care.

How frequently to you take a cuff blood pressure on someone who is on vasoactive drips?

I was taught (and do) every 15 minutes at the minimum, but lately I've been walking into rooms where the bp is set to go off every 30 minutes, or in some cases every 60! :eek: And this is while we are supposed to be titrating! I'm just wondering if I'm a little too wound tight being a new grad and all, of if this is something I should see as a little odd.

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Specializes in CTICU.

How long is a piece of string...?

In what setting? If I had other monitoring I would not be as concerned. How stable is the patient? Are you titrating the meds? Has the BP been high/low?

As a general rule, I think 15 mins is reasonable for a pt with meds being titrated.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

If my pt is on pressors, and I'm titrating, he should have an Aline. In the absence of an Aline, then I would take the pressures Q15min.

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At my hospital we take pressures every 15 minutes on someone with a pressor.

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Specializes in CVICU, ICU, RRT, CVPACU.
If my pt is on pressors, and I'm titrating, he should have an Aline. In the absence of an Aline, then I would take the pressures Q15min.

Same here. Your patient should have an a-line, but if they dont run them every 15 minutes. If they are unstable, run them more often until stabilized.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
How long is a piece of string...?

In what setting? If I had other monitoring I would not be as concerned. How stable is the patient? Are you titrating the meds? Has the BP been high/low?

As a general rule, I think 15 mins is reasonable for a pt with meds being titrated.

Exactly. Your unit should have clearly written protocols for this.

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Specializes in ER/Critical Care.

Thank you all for your responses. We do have a policy that states in absence of a-line it should be done at least every 30 minutes. Of course we do them more frequently if unstable, or ask for an a-line (if really labile). But the people that are on/have been on pressors for a few days are the ones I see on q 30 minutes. I was just wondering if I was being overly paranoid, but it sounds like I'm in the majority doing q15's. Again, thank you!

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Specializes in cardiac ICU.

I'm with you. I've found the NIBP cuff set for Q60mins on vasoactive patients, and VS documented on CRRT patients Q60mins - when those patients are "hemodynamically unstable" by definition. I document at least Q15mins with a NIBP and more frequently if I have an A-line or the patient is deteriorating. I also try to precept orientees to do the same. Even if it's not written in a policy anywhere, it's CYA charting - and good practice.

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If my patient's are on pressors and I am titrating I set my monitor to check q15m regardless with a cuff or an A-line even with both. If I am not tiitrating, then our policy is q30m unless I feel they need to be monitored q15m (nursing judgement). Most of our patient's that are being titrated on pressors have an A-line thank goodness!!! :heartbeat

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Specializes in ICU/CVICU/CICU/MSICU/CathLab.

Q15min or less if they're being titrated, Q30 or 60 if not being titrated (up or down) for past 12 hrs.

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Specializes in SICU, NICU, CCU, CIC, ICU, MICU.
If my patient's are on pressors and I am titrating I set my monitor to check q15m regardless with a cuff or an A-line even with both.

Both is a bit of over kill here. If they correlate then checking with the NIBP cuff doesn't need to be done q15 min. And if for some reason you are checking q15 min with the NIBP cuff make sure its not on the same arm as the A-line.

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