Measuring Blood Pressure (Manual) CNA skills checklist

Perform hand hygiene

Critical step

Address resident by name and explain the procedure

Ensure resident has been resting for at least 5 minutes

Position resident comfortably with arm supported at heart level

Critical step

Expose upper arm - do not take BP over clothing

Critical step

Select appropriate size cuff (bladder should encircle 80% of arm)

Critical step

Palpate brachial artery on inner arm above elbow

Critical step

Apply cuff snugly with center of bladder over brachial artery, 1-2 inches above elbow

Critical step

Position arm with palm facing upward, arm relaxed and supported

Place stethoscope earpieces in ears with tips pointing forward

Place stethoscope diaphragm over brachial artery - do not place under cuff

Critical step

Close valve on bulb and inflate cuff to 160-180 mmHg or 30 mmHg above where pulse disappears

Open valve slowly, deflating cuff at 2-4 mmHg per second

Critical step

Note reading when first sound is heard (systolic pressure)

Critical step

Continue deflating and note reading when sound disappears (diastolic pressure)

Critical step

Deflate cuff completely and remove from arm

Record blood pressure reading accurately (systolic/diastolic) within plus or minus 8 mmHg

Critical step

Reposition resident's clothing for comfort

Report any abnormal findings to nurse

Perform hand hygiene

Critical step