Is this a problem? taking your neighbors blood pressure

[HappyNurse2005]

My friend was telling me about this situation, and I think its really not something thats advised, but am not sure. She thinks its fine. so, i ask the nursing masses their opinion.

My friend is a RN. She has an elderly neighbor that lives alone that she is friendly with. visited her in the hospital recently, called 911 for her when she was confused and couldn't talk clearly one day. brings her food, etc. just normal neighborly stuff.

she recently said that the neighbor has asked her to take her blood pressure. She did take it, and it was high. so friend called the woman's doctor for her. I believe hte neighbor wants my friend to continue to take her blood pressure on occasion. (and she does get regular medical care, so this is in addition, not in substitute of going to a PCP)

anyhoo, i told her that i didnt think that was a good idea. I said, what if you took it, it was high, she didnt do anything about it, then she stroked out and died? I mean, there is a reason we are discouraged from taking BP's on patients visitors (even though they may ask you to). though, i'm really not sure if this is legally wrong, ethically wrong, or if i'm just making it all up in my head cuz i'm too cautious.

So is taking a BP on your neighbor really wrong, or just generally not a great idea, but not absolutely wrong? thoughts?

[rita.kumar83]

I don't think there is anything wrong with it as long as your neighbors give you consent. It's good practice, and that's what my clinical instructor had recommended me to do in one of my previous semesters. Also remember not to listen to other people as they can always put you down. Go for it!!!:)

[NurseAdida]

There's nothing wrong with taking a neighbor's blood pressure unless ofcourse you cause injury while doing so. I mean didn't we take BP's on each other in nursing school?

[country mom]

I don't see how you could get in trouble for not taking someones B/P when you are at home and not working. You taking the BP would not have prevented the heart attack/stroke and if they were concerned they should call their Dr.

That said, I would have no problems taking a BP but I don't see how the above argument would hold up in court.

It doesn't matter whether or not it would hold up in court. If a person wants to make a case of it, and he/she can find a lawyer to take their case, there is a possibility it could end up in court, unless the court throws it out because it lacks merit. But whether it gets thrown out or not, you're still going to have months of sweating it out and will probably hire a lawyer to start preparing your defense. There are oodles of frivolous cases that make it through the system, as long as somebody sees $$$ signs, they'll go after it.

[tewdles, RN]

holy cow!

such fear over taking a BP!

unless a nurse does something stupid mechanically in the process there is nothing to sue for...nothing. remember, the neighbor asked you to check it. where are the grounds for litigation? where is the injury? where is the breach of scope of practice? BP is high?...refer them to their MD. BP is low?...refer them to their MD. BP is fine?...tell them they are doing a good job and refer them to their MD.

again I will say that taking a BP is AOK while giving your friend, coworker, or acquaintance an OTC drug is NOT...and yet many, many nurses dispense OTC remedies without second thought. there are threads on AN where regular ol nurses defend their "right" to give someone a tylenol or motrin or midol, etc at their discretion. THAT is outside the nursing scope of practice, checking a BP is not.