Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. 3.1 Ensure you have collected your entire equipment e.g. Doppler, cuff and aneroid sphygmomanometer and ultrasonic gel. 3.2 Select correct size cuff that covers 80% of limb. 3.3 Ensure patient is sitting with arm supported at heart level. 3.4 Wrap the cuff around the upper arm. 3.5 Palpate the radial pulse and apply small amount of ultrasonic gel to area. 3.6 Switch on the Doppler and apply probe over pulse area. 3.7 Once a strong pulse is detected inflate the cuff as per aneroid protocol, ensure probe remains in contact with skin. 3.8 Once pulse sound disappears inflate cuff a further 20mmHg. 3.9 Deflate the cuff slowly 2-3mmHg per second until pulse sound is heard. This is the systolic blood pressure reading. 3.10 Rapidly deflate the cuff. A diastolic blood pressure reading is not possible with the Doppler. 3.11 Document reading immediately. 3.12 If reading is to be repeated wait a minimum of one minute. 3.13 Doppler measurement maybe required in children under 5 years when it is difficult to obtain an auscultatory blood pressure. Home Health Agency Nursing Care & Procedures K-175