Measuring Blood Pressure Performance Checklist

Measuring Blood Pressure

Check care plan for direction and client needs. Perform hand hygiene. Assess the client’s status before undertaking the activity. Explain the procedure to the client. Provide for privacy.

Collect the following equipment:

• Blood pressure cuff
• Stethoscope
• Antiseptic wipes

Wipe the stethoscope ear pieces and diaphragm with the wipes.

Have the person sit or lie down. Make sure the room is quiet. Ask the person not to speak while you measure the blood pressure.

Position the person’s arm level with the heart, the palm up.

Stand no more than 1 metre (3 feet) away from the manometer.

Expose the upper arm. Squeeze the cuff to expel any remaining air. Close the valve on the bulb.

Find the brachial artery at the inner aspect of the elbow.

Place the arrow on the cuff over the brachial artery. Wrap the cuff around the upper arm at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) above the elbow. Make sure cuff is even and snug.

Locate the radial or brachial pulse. Inflate the cuff until you can no longer feel the pulse. Note this point. Deflate cuff. Place the diaphragm over the brachial artery. Do not place it under the cuff.

Place the stethoscope earpieces in your ears. Inflate the cuff 30 mm Hg beyond the point where you no longer felt the pulse.

Deflate the cuff at an even rate of 2 to 4 mm per second. Turn the valve counterclockwise to deflate the cuff.

Note the point where the first sound was heard – this is the systolic reading.

Continue to deflate the cuff. Note the point where the sound disappears – this is the diastolic reading.

Deflate the cuff completely. Remove it from the person’s arm. Remove the stethoscope. Clean the earpieces and diaphragm with the wipes.

Perform hand hygiene. Provide for safety and comfort. Tidy area.

Report and record observations, according to agency policy.