I had something very bizarre happen today at a clinic but I wanted to check with others on AN in case I might be incorrect on this.
A CNA checked my blood pressure. I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt that was a bit tight in the sleeves so I could not easily roll up my sleeves. The CNA said not to bother trying to roll up my sleeves and, instead, she took my BP on the LOWER part of my arm. The reading was way off and she used one of those d*mned automatic cuffs so it inflated very high and actually HURT when she was doing it.
WTH? I've been an RN (first ADN, then BSN) for nearly thirty years. I've done blood pressure checks as a parish nurse. I've been a clinical instructor and taught skills lab. Never, ever, EVER have I seen or taught ANYONE that it's appropriate to check BP on the forearm. Always, always, ALWAYS have used the upper arm and cannot imagine why this CNA would have done this---unless she either had no idea what the heck she was doing or if there's been some changes in acceptable practice of checking BP of which I am unaware.
Is there a new procedure of which I am unaware? A new way that is acceptable for people to check BP? I am thinking not, that this CNA clearly has no clue of what she is doing, but I wanted to check with the folks here on AN to make sure. I am very polite to people and don't believe in going off on a stranger---so I generally don't say anything about mediocre or poor customer service unless there is REALLY a problem. I was also taken aback that I was actually speechless! I mean, yes I would have said something to a student or an orientee who made a similar mistake but I didn't feel like trying to correct this total stranger. I also don't believe in being a PITA patient and telling everyone that I'm an RN, yadda yadda, so as to intimidate someone or make them feel nervous around me.
Good grief---and to make it worse, she asked me how my drive was and when I told her that I got stuck behind some farmers doing harvest, she prattled on and ON about having been in an auto accident with a tractor years ago. Yeah, that story was enough to make my pressure go up, too. Of course her story got me upset. Duh!
So---unless there is something that I don't know and this CNA was doing it right, I am going to call tomorrow to speak with her nursing supervisor. Oh, and she had the guts to say that maybe she should check it again before I left. NO THANK YOU!
Dang---my arm is still a little sore. She really hurt me. :angryfire
