Mowell Aneroid Sphygmomanometer Palm Type Manual B.P Machine (Moniter)

Check to make sure the aneroid manometer is calibrated correctly

When you look at the dial, make sure it is at the zero baseline before starting. If it isn’t, you need to calibrate it using a mercury manometer. Connect it with a Y connector, and once you move the dial over, check the pressure at several readings on both meters to make sure the aneroid manometer matches the mercury manometer.

Pick a cuff that is an appropriate size

Larger patients will need larger cuffs; otherwise, their blood pressure will read higher than it actually is. Similarly, smaller patients will need smaller cuffs; otherwise, their blood pressure will read lower than it actually is.

• To pick the right size cuff, measure the bladder of the cuff against your patient’s arm. The bladder is the part of the cuff where the air enters it. The bladder should go at least 80 percent of the way around the patient’s arm.

Wrap the cuff around the patient’s arm

Wrap the cuff of the manometer snugly around the patient’s exposed upper arm. The bottom edge of the cuff should be approximately one inch above the bend of the elbow.

• The cuff should be fairly tight to get an accurate reading. It should be tight enough that it should be hard for you to get two fingers under the edge of the cuff.

Pump air into the cuff.

This step should be done quickly. You should let the cuff reach a point where you can’t feel the radial pulse anymore. Note the pressure in mmHg. That pressure is a general guide for the systolic pressure.

Take the air out of the cuff.

Release the air from the cuff. Add 30 mmHg to your previous reading. That is, if you lost the pulse at 120 mmHg, add 30 to reach 150 mmHg.

• If you don’t want to take it twice, a standard recommendation is to inflate to 180 mmHg.

Place the stethoscope bell on the brachial artery

You should hold the bell of the stethoscope on the patient’s skin just below the edge of the cuff. It should center on the brachial artery so that you can hear the blood flow.[25]

• Never use your thumb to hold the head of the stethoscope in place. The thumb has a pulse of its own which can interfere with your ability to hear the patient’s pulse. Hold the stethoscope in place with your index and middle fingers instead.

Re-inflate the cuff.

Add air into the cuff rapidly, until it reaches the number you found by adding 30 mmHg. Once you’ve hit that number, stop adding air.

Slowly let the air out

Let the air deflate from the cuff at a rate of 2 to 3 mmHg a second. While it is deflating, make sure you are listening in the stethoscope.

Record the measurements.

Write down the high and low numbers, as well as what size cuff you used. Also, write what arm was used and the position the patient was in.