Taking a Blood Pressure

Material needed:

• Blood pressure cuff
• Stethoscope
• Antiseptic wipes
• Paper
• Pencil

Procedure:

1. Explain what you are going to do
2. Ask client to sit or lie down
3. Wash your hands
4. Obtain material listed above
5. Wipe stethoscope earpieces and chest piece with antiseptic wipes
6. Place client's arm in position level with the heart, palm up, supported by a pillow, table, or arm of chair
7. Expose the client upper arm. Remove clothing so that area is bare
8. Squeeze the blood pressure cuff to expel any air. Close the value of the bulb
9. Find the brachial artery by feeling the pulse at the inner side of the elbow
10. Wrap the cuff around the client's arm, at least one inch above the bend in the arm. Make sure cuff is secure and even. Position rubber bag over the artery
11. Put stethoscope earpieces in your ears
12. Place finger over radial pulse. Inflate the cuff until you can not feel the radial pulse. Inflate the cuff 30 mm beyond the point at which you last felt the pulse
13. Place stethoscope chest piece or bell over the brachial artery
14. Keep your eyes on dial and begin to deflate the cuff slowly and evenly by turning the valve of the bulb counterclockwise
15. Note the first sound you hear and read the dial at this point. This is the systolic pressure reading
16. Keep eyes on dial and continue to deflate the cuff. Note the last sound you hear and read the dial at this point. This is the diastolic pressure reading
17. Deflate the cuff completely. Remove the stethoscope and cuff from the client's arm
18. Write the blood pressure on the paper
19. Assist client, as needed, to the desired position
20. Clean earpieces and chest piece with an antiseptic wipe. Discard used wipes
21. Return all material to proper storage place
22. Wash your hands
23. Record blood pressure results on client's records
24. Report blood pressures the above or below the normal range for the client to the nurse or family member