Blood Pressure without a Stethoscope?
Is it possible to take a person's blood pressure reading without a stethoscope?
My mum needed her blood pressure taken and asked one of the nurses where she works to take it for her. The method she used was as normal with respect to the use of an inflated cuff and pressure gauge but instead of a stethoscope she simply used her fingers to 'feel' the blood pressure.
Now she is a very experienced nurse and has taken blood pressure readings countless times but I can't help wonder how its possible to 'feel' the Korotkov sounds in order to take a correct measurement. Has anybody come across this method before? Any health practitioners out there able to shed some light on this one for me? Thanks
Thank you very much for all of your answers. I haven't picked a best answer based on who is wrong and who is right as who am I to determine this. I have simply chosen the most informative answer. But you have all helped shed a little light on the subject so thanks again 
Rych, YES! In the absence of a stethoscope you can get a valid systolic (higher number) blood pressure (BP) but NOT a diastolic pressure. It is best to have a stethoscope and record both systolic & diastolic pressures, BUT sometimes, in acute monitoring of the patient, such as after a heart attack, when the greatest danger is a sudden drop in systolic pressure, the nurse appropriately does what you describe. To do this, the BP cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated. One or 2 fingers is then placed on the front of the wrist just above the thumb where the radial artery is near the surface and where the pulse is usually felt and counted. As the BP cuff is inflated, the radial pulse will disappear. As the cuff air is slowly released, the moment the radial artery beat is felt under your finger at the wrist is the systolic BP. That will usually be enough for monitoring. You are NOT able to record the lower value for the diastolic pressure ever this way, but it's okay at the moment of monitoring. I have done this many times.
Nursing School: stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, math test
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Blood pressure test Photo Mugs MODEL RELEASED. Blood pressure measurement of a female patient. The black cuff (centre) around her arm will be inflated until blood flow in the arm stops. This is detected by the stethoscope being held on her arm beneath the cuff. The cuff is then relaxed until the blood flow just resumes, with a measurement (systolic pressure) being taken at this point. The cuff is then relaxed until blood flows ... |
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