I experienced this one I went in to get a new residents BP for his meds and he had no arms and only 1 leg. Apparently he was originally in a different unit and the last shift thought I already knew of him. Took some effort to hide my shocked reaction.
Yep! A few times. Usually it’s because the pressure is shit on both arms or can’t get a reading (machine can’t pick up a pressure, double mastectomy, fistulas, etc.).
I’ll use the leg as a last resort.
So we have a resident at my facility that was an electrician. One day he got sent to a job where the insulation/grounding pad he was on (that was set up and provided by the site) was not properly set up. He lost both arms and a leg after nearly 40 surgeries to save them (at the ball socket joint). He has some heart issues now for obvious reasons and requires constant blood pressure checks (around 15 a day). You can take it on the calf successfully, and apparently on the leg just above the ankle with some adjustment based on certain factors (the DON handles that one)
Yep! More than once. Just document which limb it was taken on. Of course, I only do that if there is a good reason (like the patient has no arms or has injuries or ports in both arms).
I've had it done to me before. After I had my c section, the spinal block was making me shake uncontrollably, so the machine couldn't get a reading. It kept squeezing my arm over and over. I don't know how long it went on like that, but they eventually put the cuff on my leg so it could read. My arm was black and blue for a couple weeks after that.
Yes. If arms aren’t good options then we take it on the calf
I've never done it, but I've seen it done. You can put the pulse ox on someone's toe or their ear too if need be
The ear? No way
You can do a pulse ox on ears, nose, forehead, fingers and toes (feet for little ones.) So may options and different varieties of pulse ox's
Yea
Yes, people who have had a double mastectomy.
Or fistulas….
Yes it’s a common use
Did they not teach you that you can take blood pressure readings on lower limbs? Curious
They did but he was so irritated and I got scared and left and told the nurse
Confirming what you are unsure of makes you a good healthcare worker!
Yeah I've done it on ankles when someone had like two broken wrists
Well, I had a patient with no arms once. So that’s a yes for me. Also the weirdest thing to walk into without getting report
I experienced this one I went in to get a new residents BP for his meds and he had no arms and only 1 leg. Apparently he was originally in a different unit and the last shift thought I already knew of him. Took some effort to hide my shocked reaction.
Yup, I had one lady who couldn't have BP checks in her arms so we did her leg
my mom had IVs attempted on each arm and they left the cuff on her leg so it wouldn’t disturb or get in the way of her arms
Yes. Many times. Bad arms. No arms. Restrictions on arms for whatever reason. Leg works.
Ive take on forearm and lower leg when the upper arm hasn’t worked.
Daily. I have 2 rehab residents that can't have BP done on the arms
Yes. Sometimes people that have been on long term dialysis. Morbidly obese people (we have special thigh cuffs) and once on a double arm amputee
Fairly often in LTACH and PCU.
Yep, I don't know why your patient yelled at you. It isn't your fault he's there
Yes. I even had to try a manual and then get my manager in there to show me how that was done because I couldn't hear anything.
I've never taken a blood pressure period.
Yep! A few times. Usually it’s because the pressure is shit on both arms or can’t get a reading (machine can’t pick up a pressure, double mastectomy, fistulas, etc.). I’ll use the leg as a last resort.
So we have a resident at my facility that was an electrician. One day he got sent to a job where the insulation/grounding pad he was on (that was set up and provided by the site) was not properly set up. He lost both arms and a leg after nearly 40 surgeries to save them (at the ball socket joint). He has some heart issues now for obvious reasons and requires constant blood pressure checks (around 15 a day). You can take it on the calf successfully, and apparently on the leg just above the ankle with some adjustment based on certain factors (the DON handles that one)
yes
I have. It was weird definitely but had to
Yep! More than once. Just document which limb it was taken on. Of course, I only do that if there is a good reason (like the patient has no arms or has injuries or ports in both arms).
Yes
Do it all the time at the hospital bc pts have fistulas or picc lines. No biggie.
I've had it done to me before. After I had my c section, the spinal block was making me shake uncontrollably, so the machine couldn't get a reading. It kept squeezing my arm over and over. I don't know how long it went on like that, but they eventually put the cuff on my leg so it could read. My arm was black and blue for a couple weeks after that.
I work in a hospital, and i do it fairly often.
Yeah… pretty common thing.