Routine Tests Part 3
Blood pressure measurement and ECGs
Routine tests and monitoring are key to the day-to-day work of practice nurses and intrinsic to the management of long-term conditions, health screening and promotion, and the management of minor illnesses and injuries. It is therefore important that nurses maintain their practical and clinical skills to the highest standards.1
This resource, consisting of five assessment questions at basic level, tests your knowledge of the theory of, and best practice when taking a blood pressure and recording an electrocardiogram (ECG). Complete the resource, including reading the featured articles and undertaking some or all of the suggested activities, to obtain a certificate for one hour of continuing professional development to include in your annual portfolio.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this resource, you should be able to:
- Explain what is meant by blood pressure
- Understand the importance of the correct selection and use of devices
- Appreciate the importance of maintaining equipment appropriately
- Understand the importance of patient information and consent
- Appreciate the need for ensuring appropriate delegation
References
1. Nursing and Midwifery Council. Code of professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics, 2008.
Practice Nurse featured articles
Practical Skills in Primary Care: Part 2 Stephanie Garner
Managing the routine consultation Katherine Hunt
Medico-legal issues; Gaining consent Diane Baylis, Medical Protection Society
Overcoming white coat hypertension with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring Margaret Perry
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring Joanne Haws
Understanding electrocardiography Margaret Perry
Reading list
RCGP General Practice Foundation: General Practice Nurse Competencies
Education for Health courses
Essentials of Primary Care Nursing – 5 one day workshops
Contents
Blood pressure measurement and ECGs
Routine tests and monitoring are key to the day-to-day work of practice nurses and intrinsic to the management of long-term conditions, health screening and promotion, and the management of minor illnesses and injuries. It is therefore important that nurses maintain their practical and clinical skills to the highest standards.1
This resource, consisting of five assessment questions at basic level, tests your knowledge of the theory of, and best practice when taking a blood pressure and recording an electrocardiogram (ECG). Complete the resource, including reading the featured articles and undertaking some or all of the suggested activities, to obtain a certificate for one hour of continuing professional development to include in your annual portfolio.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this resource, you should be able to:
- Explain what is meant by blood pressure
- Understand the importance of the correct selection and use of devices
- Appreciate the importance of maintaining equipment appropriately
- Understand the importance of patient information and consent
- Appreciate the need for ensuring appropriate delegation
Reference
- Nursing and Midwifery Council. The Code; 2015 (updated 2018). https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/
Practice Nurse featured articles
Managing the routine consultation, Katherine Hunt
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, Joanne Haws
Practice Nurse bite-sized learning: Understanding hypertension
Practice Nurse bite-sized learning: Understanding resistant hypertension
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