NURSING FOUNDATION

UNIT 7 – VITAL SIGNS { SET – 4 BLOOD PRESSURE }

PREPARED BY:
Mrs.M.SARANYA,
Nursing Tutor,
Sacred Heart College Of Nursing, Kumbakonam.
 BLOOD PRESSURE:

It is the force exerted by the blood against

the walls of the arteries in which it is flowing.
It is expressed in terms of millimeters of
mercury (mm of Hg).
Systolic pressure is the maximum of the
pressure against the wall of the vessel
following ventricular contraction.
 Diastolic pressure is the minimum pressure
of the blood against the walls of the vessels
following closure of aortic valve (ventricular
relaxation).
BP is measured by using an instrument called Bp cuff
(sphygmomanometer) & stethoscope and
 the average normal value is 120/80mmHg for adults.
 brachial artery and popliteal artery are most
commonly used.
 It is measured by securing the Bp cuff to the upper
arm & thigh placing the stethoscope on brachial
artery in the ante cubital space &popliteal artery at
the back of the knee.
 Pulse pressure: is the difference between the systolic
and diastolic pressure
SITES FOR MEASURING BLOOD PRESSURE
:

Upper arm (using brachial

artery(commonest)
 Thigh around popliteal artery
 Fore -arm using radial artery
 Leg using posterior tibial or dorsal
pedis
 ASSESSING BLOOD PRESSURE :

Purpose
To obtain base line measure of arterial
blood pressure for subsequent evaluation
 To determine the clients homodynamic
status
 To identify and monitor changes in blood
pressure
 PROCEDURE TO MEASURE BP:
Explain the procedure to the patient & remove
any light cloth from patient’s arm
 Make sure that the client has not smoked or
ingested caffeine, within 30 minutes prior to
measurement.
 Position the patient on lying, sitting or standing
position, but always ensure that the
sphygmomanometer is at the level of the heart
with the arm supported & the palm facing
upwards
apply cuff snugly/securely around the arm
,2.5cm above the ante cubital space/fossa, at
the level of the heart (for every cm the cuff sites
above or below the level of the heart the BP
varies by 0.8mmHg)
 Palpate the radial pulse and inflate the cuff
until the radial pulse can no longer be felt, this
provides an estimation of systolic pressure.
 Inflate cuff 30mmHg higher than estimated
systolic pressure
palpate the brachial artery & place the bell of
the stethoscope over the site & the ear pieces
on ear, apply enough pressure to keep the
stethoscope in place (the bell of the
stethoscope is designed to amplify/intensify low
frequency sounds)
 Deflate the cuff 2-4mmHg per second.
 The first pulse heard is the systolic reading
,continue to deflate until there is a change
intone to a muffled beat, this is the diastolic
reading
Deflate & remove cuff roll neatly and
replace.
 Record the systolic and diastolic pressure
on vital sing sheet and compare the
present reading with previous reading.
 report or treat any change
 Clear ear pieces and bell of the
stethoscope with antiseptic swab and
return all equipments .
THANK YOU ….