Essentials of Healthcare. The pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery as the heart...
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Pulse and Blood Pressure Essentials of Healthcare
Essentials of Healthcare. The pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery as the heart beats Felt most easily in arteries, especially those
The pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery as
the heart beats Felt most easily in arteries, especially those that
can be gently pressed against a bone The pulse lets us know how the
cardiovascular system is meeting the bodys needs
Slide 3
Radial pulse is most commonly used and is found in the inner
aspect of the wrist You must note 3 things when checking a pulse
Rate or speed Rhythm (regular or irregular) Volume (strong, weak,
thready, bounding) You must record date and time pulse was taken in
addition to the above findings
Slide 4
Pulse rate is measured as the number of beats per minute
Counted for one full minute and recorded as a number Followed by
the abbreviation bpm (beats per minute) Varies by individual age,
sex, body size and illness
Slide 5
Normal Ranges Adult 60-80 Children 7+ 70-100 Children 1-7
80-100 Infants 120-160 You must report Tachycardia (over 100 beats
per minute) Bradycardia (below 60 beats per minute) Irregularities
in rhythm or volume
Slide 6
May be affected by many things illness Emotions Age Exercise
Elevated temperature Drugs position
Slide 7
Measured by counting the heart contractions Left side of chest
Between 5/6 ribs Just below left nipple Under left breast in a
female Listen for lub dub The sound you hear are the heart valves
opening and closing
Slide 8
Always count for one full minute Who needs an apical pulse
checked? Whenever pulse deficits exists or is suspected Before meds
that change heart rate or rhythm On any child 12 months or younger
Can be hard to feel/count a faster pulse Whenever radial pulse if
irregular or if you are uncertain of the accuracy of the radial
pulse On any child in which it is difficult to get a radial
pulse
Slide 9
This occurs when the heart is too weak and does not pump enough
blood to produce a pulse or when the heart beats too fast, not
allowing the heart to fill with blood between beats. The apical
rate would be greater than the radial rate. How do you check a
pulse deficit? One person checks apical rate while another checks
radial rate. If the rates are different, a pulse deficit
exists.
Slide 10
Measures the force of blood against the artery walls Blood
pressure is measured in mmHg (millimeters of mercury) Systole
(systolic reading)-the force of blood against the artery walls
during ventricular contraction-working pressure Diastole (diastolic
reading)-the constant pressure in the walls of the arteries-resting
pressure
Slide 11
What elevates the BP? Exercise Eating Stimulants Stress, fear,
anxiety Arteriosclerosis, high cholesterol, diabetes Pain
Obesity
Slide 12
What lowers BP? Rest Depressants Weight loss Shock Grief
Dehydrations Diuretics
Slide 13
What does the equipment look like? Electronic sphygmomanometers
Aneroid sphygmomanometer Mercury sphygmomanometers Stethoscope
Slide 14
Cuff is placed directly over the brachial artery (1 inch above
the antecubital space) Systolic pressure is the first regular sound
you hear Diastolic pressure will be the change or last sound you
hear Pulse pressure will give you information on the condition of
the arteries in the body The difference between the systolic and
diastolic pressure
Slide 15
Normal Ranges-recorded as a fraction Average resting pressure
120/80 Normal Systolic Pressure Range 100-140 Normal Diastolic
Pressure Range 60-90 Hypertension-pressure above 140/90
Hypotension-pressure below 100/60 The systolic and diastolic values
should be looked at separately to determine normal
Slide 16
Can you use any arm to check BP? No. When would you not use an
arm? If it has an IV line or other device inserted Is being treated
for burn, fracture, etc Has dialysis access device Is on the same
side as a recent mastectomy or other surgical procedure If the arm
is paralyzed, injured or has edema If the arm has a pulse oximeter
on it
Slide 17
Inaccurate or erroneous blood pressure readings are due to:
Wrong size cuff Improperly wrapped cuff Incorrect positioning of
the arm Not using the same arm each time Not having the gauge at
eye level Deflating the cuff too slowly Mistaking an auscultatory
gap for the diastolic pressure
Slide 18
Make sure the gauge is at eye level It should not be tilted The
gauge Each small line represents 2mm Hg Each large line represents
10mm Hg
Slide 19
What do I report? If you were unable to get the reading If it
is higher than a previous reading If it is lower that a previous
reading If the site where the BP was taken was other than the
brachial artery The position of the patient (sitting, standing,
lying down)
Slide 20
Orthostatic, or postural, hypotension occurs when there is a
sudden drop in both systolic and diastolic pressures when an
individual moves from a lying to a sitting or standing position
Your blood vessels cant compensate quickly enough to the change in
position Dizziness, lightheadedness and blurred vision may happen
Patients may need orthostatic blood pressures taken to see if this
condition is occurring We do them lying, sitting then standing to
determine if there is a drop
Slide 21
Electronic blood pressure monitors are not for everyone Do not
use on those with: Extreme hypertension or hypotension Very rapid
heart rates Excessive body movements or tremors Irregular heart
rhythms or dysrhythmias
Slide 22
Practice measuring pulse and blood pressure following your
check off sheets