Tips/tricks on taking blood pressure

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Aug 8, 2011

What exactly are you having difficulty with?

Your best bet is to just practice this skill! My school allowed us to rent out equipment for a week. When we were learning how to do vital signs, we were allowed to rent out a BP cuff. I would practice on my roommates, my boyfriend, his roommates, family members...I wasn't comfortable with doing BP's in the beginning but with practice it's almost like second nature now.

CtSPN · Aug 8, 2011

My problem is second guessing if I hear the first and last sound correctly. I bought a blood pressure cuff so I'm going to have to break it out and start practicing.

RangeinPlace · Aug 8, 2011

Just be sure you practice in a quiet environment, and that your breathing is calm and quiet. Then, just wait for the pronounced first sound and wait for it... and the last sound. Keep practicing, and trust your ears to hear the first and last sound. If you need to do it more than once on a patient person, than so do until your confident of what sounds to listen for. You got this.

kme1970 · Nov 6, 2011

I agree with the quiet thing..I was so freaked out by not being able to hear anything due to the lab being very noisy. I bought a cuff and practiced at home..still not great, as I am a newbie, but it definitely helps..BTW this site is AWESOME!!

Cuddleswithpuddles · Nov 6, 2011

Practice, practice, practice. Make guinea pigs out of your family and friends. Take BPs manually in clinicals even if the machines are available.

Your stethoscope matters too. Perfect technique will not matter if you have a bad stethoscope that does not transmit sound well.

zymyn · Mar 14, 2014

I'm just a PNA (psych NA) but I've picked up afew chops over the years...Here are acoupla' tricks that always helped me:

1)Remind yourself to BREATHE. Normally, that is...too many newbies hold their breath, or try too hard to breathe quietly, or to hold their breath while taking the reading. Promise; these rituals never really work, especially when holding your breath, during which the pulse you hear may be your own! Breathe normally, and be calm.

2) Listen with the BELL of your stethoscope, not the diaphragm end...the sounds you're listening for are very low frequency, and the bell end is much better suited for these types of tones. While yer at it, get a NICE stethoscope. Its amazing how much difference it can make, and how much extra work you can give yourself by trying to make do with a cheap-o, crappy one.

3) If necessary, take steps to ISOLATE the pulse area from vibrational sound. This might mean putting a folded towel under an arm, if an air conditioner is rumbling away nearby. Sound vibrations travel thru' flesh and bone, too.

4) Last, but DEFINITELY not least, remind your patient that sitting calmly and relaxing their arm will make the process go as quickly as it can. A patient who moves around, or who starts talking at just the "wrong" moment, can help to hide those quiet sounds.

Hope this helps!