I am a student doing my Med-Surg rotation on a hem-onc floor. The standard practice there is to do manual blood pressure measurments rather than using the automatic blood pressure devices, and I was told it was because of low platelets and bleeding/bruising risk. Is this evidence-based practice? It makes sense, but I am looking for literature to support this for an assignment, and I can't seem to find any! Anyone have anything on this?? [As an aside, I hope to be an oncology nurse and feel very fortunate to be working on this floor!]
iluvivt, BSN, RN 2,773 Posts Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion. Has 32 years experience. Mar 4, 2009 I would Google.....thrombocytopenia or thrombocytopenia purpura and nursing care and you should be able to find some general recommendations. I have TP and i can tell you when they use an automatic cuff or for that matter inflate the BP cuff up too high I get horrible petechia
roseisrose 5 Posts Mar 4, 2009 Thanks iluvrvt for sharing your personal experience. Before I posted the original message, I googled all kinds of terms but not the terms you mentioned exactly so I'll try that. I understand what the guidelines are and why, but for my assignment I need literature references that support the practice.Thanks
scadams29 45 Posts Specializes in Surgical Oncology- just starting. Mar 7, 2009 Google has a scholar search. Put you keywords in this type of search and see what is returned.
RN813 19 Posts Specializes in Med/Surg. Oncology. GYN.. Has 3 years experience. Jun 21, 2009 We use automatic cuffs even with platelets below 20. Perhaps that facility has had a problem in the past. A lawsuit usually leads to change in practice.
