Blood

Click to edit Pressure

Master title style

Ana Patricia M. Magtuto,MSN,RN,LPT

ecelia L. Crawford
Blood Pressure – An Overview
CAUSE SYSTOLIC BP CORRECTIVE ACTION
Sit without back support + 6 to 10 Support back (sit in chair)

Full bladder + 15 Empty bladder before BP taken

Tobacco/caffeine use + 6 to 11 Don’t use before clinic appointment

BP taken when arm is: While seated in chair, patient’s arm

Parallel to body + 9 to 13 must be straight out and supported,
Unsupported  + 1 to 7 with elbow at heart level
Elbow too high +5
Elbow too low  False low
“White coat” reaction + 11 to 28 Have someone else take the BP

Talking or hand gestures +7 No talking or use of hands during BP

Cuff too narrow/small + 8 to 10

Cuff too wide/large False low Right-sized cuff properly placed over
bare upper arm
Cuff not centered +4
Cuff over clothing + 5 to 50 (Pickering et al., 2005; Perry & Potter, 2006)
Normal BP Measurements
AGE Normal BP
Newborn to 6 weeks * Systolic 50 - 70
Infant (6 weeks to 6 months) * Systolic 70 - 95
Toddler ( 1 to 3 years) * Systolic 80 - 100
Young Children ( 3 to 6 years) Systolic 80 - 110
Older Children (10 to 14 years) Systolic 90 - 120
Adults Systolic 90 - 120
Diastolic 80 or less
(Mosby’s Critical Care Nursing Reference, 2002; Perry & Potter, 2006)

(* BP is often not taken on children less than 3 years of age)

 What’s wrong with this picture?

More than one thing

may be wrong.
Write down as many Are you

wrong things as ready for

your big
wedding? Not really, there’s so
you can find! much to do – I am very
nervous these days

(Blood Pressure Competency Questionnaire

Kaiser Permanente Southern California Region
June 2006)
 What’s wrong with this picture?
• Provider and patient
are talking
• BP cuff applied over
clothing
• Arm supported above
heart level
Are you
• Patient legs are ready for
your big
crossed wedding? Not really, there’s so
• Selected size of the much to do – I am very
nervous these days
cuff looks big for the
patient

(Blood Pressure Competency Questionnaire

Kaiser Permanente Southern California Region
June 2006)