Regular size BP cuff or the "LARGE ADULT" BP cuff??

[Nrs_angie, BSN, RN]

When do you decide to go up to the LARGER ADULT size BP cuff??

All throughout nursing school and the time I have worked as an RN... No one has ever mentioned specifics of when the larger one should be used. It was explained to me that you "judge" by looking at the size of their arm... for instance a big muscular guy... or an older woman with more adipose tissue in the arm may need to go up to the bigger size. I have occassionally used the bigger size on my patients but usually, the regular size cuff fits fine.

I know that not using the correct cuff can result in false readings... Do you go by the pt's weight? stature? Is there a website or an article that documents the OFFICIAL way?

[Raebeth]

If you look on the inside of the blood pressure cuff there should be two vertical lines going down the cuff which are about 4 or so inches apart. Within those two lines is the range. (it may even say "range" on it). When you wrap the cuff around the pt's arm, before you secure the velcro, look on the inside of the cuff to see if the the edge of the cuff falls within that range (between the two lines). If the edge falls outside the last line, you should use a bigger cuff. If you wrap the cuff on and it doesn't make it to the first line you should go smaller.

[omeg]

Our BP cuffs have measurement ranges on them. So if I'm unsure as to what size cuff to use, I can measure circumference of pt arm.