Sometimes the noise level of your work area may make it very difficult to listen to the patient’s pulse with a stethoscope or you may not have a stethoscope available.<\/p>\n
In such cases, use your fingertips (not your thumb) to feel the pulse instead of using a stethoscope to listen for the pulse.<\/p>\n
The following steps summarize how this procedure is performed.<\/p>\n
Position the patient so that you can easily take the patient’s pulse.<\/p>\n
Locate the patient’s pulse (inside elbow or knee).<\/p>\n
Wrap the bladder around the patient’s upper arm or thigh, as appropriate. (The bladder must be placed between the pulse site and the patient’s heart.)<\/p>\n
Inflate the bladder while continuing to feel the patient’s pulse. Inflate the bladder until you feel the pulse stop; then inflate it another 10 mm Hg.<\/p>\n
NOTE: Inflate the bladder to at least 140 mm Hg, but not more than 200 mm Hg.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Turn the valve so that air escapes. Continue to feel for a pulse and continue to watch the gauge.<\/p>\n The systolic is the pressure at which you feel the first pulse beat return.<\/p>\n The diastolic is the pressure at which the pulse changes to a less distinct (more normal) pulse. The diastolic measurement is only an approximation since it is usually difficult to determine the diastolic using this method.<\/p>\n Open the valve fully in order to relieve the pressure as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n If you wish to check your results, squeeze the air out of the bladder, close the valve, and repeat the procedure.<\/p>\n Write the patient’s readings (systolic\/diastolic) on the form or paper. Remember that both readings are to be even whole numbers.<\/p>\n Remove the bladder from the patient’s arm or thigh. Also assist the patient to adjust his clothing or position as needed.<\/p>\n If you are not going to take another patient’s blood pressure, return the sphygmomanometer to the proper storage area.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sometimes the noise level of your work area may make it very difficult to listen to the patient’s pulse with a stethoscope or you may not have a stethoscope available. In such cases, use your fingertips (not your thumb) to feel the pulse instead of using a stethoscope to listen for the pulse. The following … Continue reading 5.7 Can I take a patient’s blood pressure without a stethoscope?<\/span> e. Release the Air Slowly. <\/strong><\/h2>\n
f. Determine Systolic. <\/strong><\/h2>\n
g. Determine Diastolic. <\/strong><\/h2>\n
h. Release Air. <\/strong><\/h2>\n
i. Verify Readings, If Needed. <\/strong><\/h2>\n
j. Record Readings. <\/strong><\/h2>\n
k. Remove Bladder. <\/strong><\/h2>\n
l. Return Equipment. <\/strong><\/h2>\n