Exploring the accuracy and precision of BP measurements.

ABSTRACT: Accurate and precise BP measurements are crucial to clinical decision-making and interventions as healthcare professionals aim to prevent complications from hypertension, yet the literature provides no gold standard for measuring BP. This article discusses the additional research necessary to develop best practices and improve patient outcomes.

Medida indireta da pressão arterial em membros inferiores: revisão integrativa / Indirect blood pressure measurement in lower limbs: an integrative review

Introdução: A medida indireta da pressão arterial nos membros superiores, em determinadas situações, pode ser contraindicada, como em casos de utilização de cateteres vasculares, presença de linfedema, Trombose Venosa Profunda (TVP) ou fístulas arteriovenosas. Assim, um local alternativo para a medida da pressão arterial pode ser os membros inferiores, mais especificamente a coxa, a panturrilha ou o tornozelo. Objetivo: Sintetizar o conhecimento sobre a medida indireta da pressão arterial nos membros inferiores. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura. A estratégia de busca utilizou os seguintes descritores controlados: Ankle, Arterial Pressure, Blood Pressure, Blood Pressure Determination, Blood Pressure Measurement, Leg, Lower Extremity, Lower limb, Thigh. Sendo adaptada e realizada a busca no mês de junho de 2020, sem limite de período de publicação, em seis bases de dados eletrônicas: Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, LILACS, Scopus e Web of Science. Foram identificadas 3.047 referências, das quais 1.523 duplicatas. Assim, do total de 1.524 citações, 1.478 foram excluídas após a leitura de título e resumo. Dessa forma, 46 estudos primários foram elegíveis para a leitura na íntegra, sendo 34 estudos excluídos, pois não respondiam à questão de pesquisa ou eram estudos de revisão. Adicionalmente, foi realizada a busca manual (handsearching) nas referências dos estudos primários incluídos, a qual resultou na inclusão de 11 estudos primários. A amostra final da revisão foi constituída por 23 estudos primários. Resultados: Os estudos foram analisados e integrados em três categorias temáticas: 1) comparação de valores de PA; 2) comparação de métodos de medida da PA; e 3) recomendações de especialistas. Utilizou-se a classificação de hierarquia dos níveis de evidência para estudos de intervenção proposta por Melnik-Fineout (2010), resultando em 18 estudos classificados como nível de evidência VI e cinco como nível de evidência VII. Quanto às características dos estudos, todos foram publicados no idioma inglês (n=23), sendo 21 publicados pela comunidade médica e dois por profissionais não médicos - um engenheiro e um enfermeiro. Conclusão: A medida da pressão arterial nos membros inferiores pode ser realizada tanto com aparelho aneroide quanto oscilométrico. Na coxa, a literatura enfatiza que se deve utilizar o manguito grande (18 centímetros de largura) e no tornozelo o manguito padrão (12 centímetros de largura), com o paciente em posição supina ou prona. Os valores de diferença média da pressão arterial sistólica encontrados na perna ou no braço variaram de 11,2 a 36,5 milímetros de mercúrio quando comparados nos estudos analisados. Tais resultados sugerem que o tornozelo e a coxa são alternativas viáveis quando a medida indireta da pressão arterial não pode ser realizada no braço, entretanto, não devem ser utilizadas como substitutas devido à discrepância dos valores encontrados e suas importâncias na prática clínica. Nos casos em que o membro inferior for a única opção disponível, a medida da pressão arterial preferencialmente deve ser realizada no tornozelo, dado que, na coxa, há relatos de desconforto e dor, o que pode influenciar nos valores de pressão arterial encontrados

Introduction: The indirect measurement of blood pressure in the upper limbs, in certain situations, may be contraindicated, as in cases of use of vascular catheters, presence of lymphedema, Deep Vein Thrombosis (TVP - Trombose Venosa Profunda) or arteriovenous fistulas. Thus, an alternative location for measuring blood pressure may be the lower limbs, more specifically the thigh, calf or ankle. Objective: To synthesize the knowledge about the indirect measurement of blood pressure in the lower limbs. Method: This is an integrative review of the literature. The search strategy used the following controlled descriptors: Ankle, Arterial Pressure, Blood Pressure, Blood Pressure Determination, Blood Pressure Measurement, Leg, Lower Extremity, Lower Limb, Thigh. The search was adapted and performed in June 2020, with no publication period limit, in six electronic databases: Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Embase, Pubmed, LILACS, Scopus and Web of Science. 3,047 references were identified, of which 1,523 were duplicates. Thus, out of a total of 1,524 citations, 1,478 were excluded after reading the title and abstract. Thus, 46 primary studies were eligible for reading in their entirety, and 34 studies were excluded because they did not answer the research question or were review studies. Additionally, a handsearching was performed in the references of the primary studies included, which resulted in the inclusion of 11 primary studies. The final sample of the review consisted of 23 primary studies. Results: The studies were analyzed and integrated into three thematic categories: 1) comparison of blood pressure values; 2) comparison of blood pressure measurement methods; and 3) expert recommendations. The classification of hierarchical levels of evidence was used for intervention studies proposed by Melnik-Fineout (2010), resulting in 18 studies classified as evidence level VI and five as evidence level VII. As for the characteristics of the studies, all were published in the English language (n=23), 21 published by the medical community and two by non-medical professionals - an engineer and a nurse. Conclusion: The measurement of blood pressure in the lower limbs can be performed with both aneroid and oscillometric apparatus. In the thigh, the literature emphasizes that one should use the large cuff (18 centimeters wide) and in the ankle the standard cuff (12 centimeters wide), with the patient in supine or prone position. The mean difference of systolic blood pressure found in the leg or arm ranged from 11.2 to 36.5 millimeters of mercury when compared in the studies analyzed. These results suggest that the ankle and thigh are viable alternatives when indirect blood pressure measurement cannot be performed on the arm, however, they should not be used as substitutes due to the discrepancy of the values found and their importance in clinical practice. In cases where the lower limb is the only available option, the measurement of blood pressure should preferably be performed on the ankle, given that, on the thigh, there are reports of discomfort and pain, which may influence the blood pressure values found

Ensuring accurate BP measurements.

Accurate BP measurements are vital for determining appropriate medication and treatment regimens. This article describes a quality improvement project to increase compliance with the American Heart Association's guidelines for BP measurement.

Effect of an educational program for the knowledge and quality of blood pressure recording. / Efeito de um programa educativo no conhecimento e na qualidade dos registros da pressão arterial.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effect of an educational program on blood pressure recording for nursing professionals in relation to theoretical knowledge and the quality of these records. METHOD: quasi-experimental study conducted in a hospital service located in the city of São Paulo. The theoretical knowledge of 101 professionals was measured using a validated questionnaire before and after the educational intervention; the quality of blood pressure records was evaluated using a validated form which was applied to 354 records in the pre-intervention period and 288 in the post-intervention period. The educational program was based on active teaching-learning methodologies and consisted of two strategies: expository/dialogue class and a board game. The Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, Fisher and Chi-Square tests were used for comparisons, adopting a level of significance of α=0.05. RESULTS: the median of the professionals' scores increased from 19 to 22 points in the post-intervention period (p<0.001). There was an improvement in the quality of the blood pressure recordings regarding the variables: cuff size (p<0.001), arm used in the procedure (p<0.001) and patient position (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: the educational program showed positive results in the promotion of knowledge among nursing professionals and in the improvement of the quality of blood pressure recording.

Lower vs. Standard Blood Pressure Targets in People with Hypertension and CVD.

Editor's note: This is a summary of a nursing care-related systematic review from the Cochrane Library. For more information, see http://nursingcare.cochrane.org.

Variability in alignment of central venous pressure transducer to physiologic reference point in the intensive care unit-A descriptive and correlational study.

BACKGROUND: The phlebostatic axis is the most commonly used anatomical external reference point for central venous pressure measurements. Deviation in the central venous pressure transducer alignment from the phlebostatic axis causes inadequate pressure readings, which may affect treatment decisions for critically ill patients in intensive care units. AIM: The primary aim of the study was to assess the variability in central venous pressure transducer levelling in the intensive care unit. We also assessed whether patient characteristics impacted on central venous pressure transducer alignment deviation. METHODS: A sample of 61 critical care nurses was recruited and asked to place a transducer at the appropriate level for central venous pressure measurement. The measurements were performed in the intensive care unit on critically ill patients in supine and Fowler's positions. The variability among the participants using eyeball levelling and a laser levelling device was calculated in both sessions and adjusted for patient characteristics. RESULTS: A significant variation was found among critical care nurses in the horizontal levelling of the pressure transducer placement when measuring central venous pressure in the intensive care unit. Using a laser levelling device did not reduce the deviation from the phlebostatic axis. Patient characteristics had little impact on the deviation in the measurements. CONCLUSION: The anatomical external landmark for the phlebostatic axis varied between critical care nurses, as the variation in the central venous pressure transducer placement was not reduced with a laser levelling device. Standardisation of a zero-level for vascular pressures should be considered to reduce the variability in vascular pressure readings in the intensive care unit to improve patient treatment decisions. Further studies are needed to evaluate critical care nurses' knowledge and use of central venous pressure monitoring and whether assistive tools and/or routines can improve the accuracy in vascular pressure measurements in intensive care units.

Conhecimento e habilidades sobre a medida da pressão arterial entre graduandos de enfermagem / Knowledge and skills about measuring blood pressure among nursing undergraduate students / Conocimientos y habilidades en la medición de la presión arterial entre los estudiantes de enfermeira

Objetivo: investigar os conhecimentos teórico e prático sobre a medida da pressão arterial entre graduandos de enfermagem. Método: estudo com abordagem mista, descritivo e exploratório, com corte transversal, realizado em 2015, com 40 graduandos de enfermagem de uma universidade pública de Minas Gerais, em três fases: observacional, levantamento do conhecimento teórico e grupo focal. Organização dos dados pela análise temática. Resultados: Da análise dos dados foi construído o mapa temático, As falhas na interrelação teoria-prática como tema central e seus subtemas, Barreiras para o aprendizado teórico, Barreiras para aprendizado prático, Barreiras no processo de acompanhamento e avaliação e Estratégias para melhoria do processo de ensino aprendizagem. Conclusão: As lacunas do conhecimento teórico e prático sobre a medida da pressão arterial contribuem para a obtenção de valores não fidedignos, o que compromete a segurança do paciente

Objetivo: investigar los conocimientos teórico y práctico sobre la medición de la presión arterial entre los estudiantes de enfermería. Método: estudio descriptivo con un enfoque mixto y exploratoria, con sección transversal en el año 2015, con 40 enfermería graduados de una pública Universidad de Minas Gerais, en tres fases: conocimiento teórico y observacional encuesta y grupos focales. Organización de datos para el análisis temático. Resultados: el análisis de los datos fue construido mapa temático, los defectos en la interelação teoría-práctica como un tema central y sus subtemas, barreras para el aprendizaje teórico, las barreras al aprendizaje prácticas barreras en el proceso de monitoreo y evaluación y estrategias para mejorar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Conclusión: Las lagunas de conocimientos teóricos y prácticos sobre la medición de la presión arterial contribuyen a obtener valores confiables, que apuesta por la seguridad del paciente

Objective: The study's main goal was to assess the theoretical and practical knowledge about measuring blood pressure among nursing undergraduate students. Methods: It was a mixed approach study, both descriptive and explanatory, and a cohort study; it was performed in 2015 with 40 nursing undergraduate students from a Public University in Minas Gerais State. The research was carried out in three phases, as follows: observational, theoretical knowledge survey and focus group. Data was organized by thematic analysis. Results: Following the data analysis, it was built the thematic map, the interrelationship faults between theory and practice as the central theme and their subthemes, the theoretical learning barriers, the practical learning barriers, the barriers of following and evaluation process, and also the strategies to improve the teaching-learning process. Conclusion: The theoretical and practical knowledge gaps about blood pressure measurement contribute to non-reliable values in daily practice, which may compromise the patient safety

Accuracy of non-invasive blood pressure measurements in obese patients.

This article describes an evidence-based literature review, comparing upper arm and forearm blood pressure measurements using non-invasive devices on obese patients. The focus on blood pressure monitoring was in response to regularly witnessing inappropriately applied blood pressure cuffs on obese patient's upper arms in practice. An inaccurately obtained blood pressure measurement can result in the misdiagnosis and treatment of hypertension. As the prevalence of obesity grows worldwide, healthcare settings need to ensure they have the necessary equipment and trained staff to accurately measure obese patients' blood pressure. The aim of this review was to identify whether a forearm measurement provided a suitable alternative to upper arm measurements. The article discusses the development and execution of a search strategy, as well as the critical appraisal of a selected article. The results of the review demonstrated that forearm blood pressure measurements in obese patients do not replace upper arm blood pressure measurements taken with an appropriate cuff. It is recommended that further research is undertaken in order to identify suitable alternatives for obtaining an accurate non-invasive blood pressure measurement in obese patients.

Measurement of lying and standing blood pressure in hospital.

Measuring lying and standing blood pressure (BP) is an important clinical observation in older hospital inpatients. This is because a drop in BP on standing, known as orthostatic hypotension (OH) is common in older people and in acute illness and, therefore, in hospital patients. OH increases the risk of a fall in hospital. Simple measures such as changes in medication or rehydration can reduce this drop in BP and reduce the risk of falls. In a recent snapshot audit in England and Wales of 179 acute hospitals and 4,846 patients aged 65 years and over admitted with an acute illness, only 16% had a lying and standing BP recorded within 48 hours. A review of the literature showed that existing advice on how to measure and interpret lying and standing BP was often not appropriate for use on the ward with frail and unwell inpatients. An online survey of 275 clinicians' usual practice highlighted variation and the need for clarity and pragmatism. In the light of the survey findings, a clinical guide has been developed on when to measure lying and standing BP, how to measure it and what is considered a significant result.

Semiotics and semiology of Nursing: evaluation of undergraduate students' knowledge on procedures.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the knowledge of scholars on Nursing regarding simple hands hygiene (SHH), blood pressure measurement (BP), peripheral venipuncture (PV) with venous catheter and male urethral catheterization delay (UCD) procedures. METHOD: quantitative study carried out between February and May 2014, with 186 undergraduate Nursing students from 5th to 9th period of a public university of Rio Grande do Norte, with application of four questionnaires. One carried out descriptive and analytic analysis. RESULTS: the students presented low average percentage of right answers, especially in blood pressure measurement (55.5%); SHH's average was higher than 70%. The average of correct answers was the highest in SHH (8.6), followed by UCD (7.8), PV (7.4) and BP (6.7). The questions regarding the topic "concepts" showed less correct answers when comparing it to the topic "technique steps". CONCLUSION: it is necessary to establish knowledge monitoring strategies, in order to stimulate the constant improvement.

Trends in the diagnosis and management of hypertension: repeated primary care survey in South West England.

BACKGROUND: Previous surveys identified a shift to nurse-led care in hypertension in 2010. In 2011 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended ambulatory (ABPM) or home (HBPM) blood pressure (BP) monitoring for diagnosis of hypertension. AIM: To survey the organisation of hypertension care in 2016 to identify changes, and to assess uptake of NICE diagnostic guidelines. DESIGN AND SETTING: Questionnaires were distributed to all 305 general practices in South West England. METHOD: Responses were compared with previous rounds (2007 and 2010). Data from the 2015 Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) were used to compare responders with non-responders, and to explore associations of care organisation with QOF achievement. RESULTS: One-hundred-and-seventeen practices (38%) responded. Responders had larger list sizes and greater achievement of the QOF target BP ≤150/90 mmHg. Healthcare assistants (HCAs) now monitor BP in 70% of practices, compared with 37% in 2010 and 19% in 2007 (P<0.001). Nurse prescribers alter BP medication in 26% of practices (11% in 2010, none in 2007; P<0.001). Of the practices, 89% have access to ABPM, but only 71% report confidence in interpreting results. Also, 87% offer HBPM, with 93% of these confident in interpreting results. CONCLUSION: In primary care BP monitoring has devolved from GPs and nurses to HCAs. One in 10 practices are not implementing NICE guidelines on ABPM and HBPM for diagnosis of hypertension. Most practices express confidence interpreting HBPM results but less so with ABPM. The need for education and quality assurance for allied health professionals is highlighted, and for training in ABPM interpretation for GPs.

Vector Autoregressive Models and Granger Causality in Time Series Analysis in Nursing Research: Dynamic Changes Among Vital Signs Prior to Cardiorespiratory Instability Events as an Example.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing continuous vital sign monitoring (heart rate [HR], respiratory rate [RR], pulse oximetry [SpO2]) in real time display interrelated vital sign changes during situations of physiological stress. Patterns in this physiological cross-talk could portend impending cardiorespiratory instability (CRI). Vector autoregressive (VAR) modeling with Granger causality tests is one of the most flexible ways to elucidate underlying causal mechanisms in time series data. PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to illustrate the development of patient-specific VAR models using vital sign time series data in a sample of acutely ill, monitored, step-down unit patients and determine their Granger causal dynamics prior to onset of an incident CRI. APPROACH: CRI was defined as vital signs beyond stipulated normality thresholds (HR = 40-140/minute, RR = 8-36/minute, SpO2 < 85%) and persisting for 3 minutes within a 5-minute moving window (60% of the duration of the window). A 6-hour time segment prior to onset of first CRI was chosen for time series modeling in 20 patients using a six-step procedure: (a) the uniform time series for each vital sign was assessed for stationarity, (b) appropriate lag was determined using a lag-length selection criteria, (c) the VAR model was constructed, (d) residual autocorrelation was assessed with the Lagrange Multiplier test, (e) stability of the VAR system was checked, and (f) Granger causality was evaluated in the final stable model. RESULTS: The primary cause of incident CRI was low SpO2 (60% of cases), followed by out-of-range RR (30%) and HR (10%). Granger causality testing revealed that change in RR caused change in HR (21%; i.e., RR changed before HR changed) more often than change in HR causing change in RR (15%). Similarly, changes in RR caused changes in SpO2 (15%) more often than changes in SpO2 caused changes in RR (9%). For HR and SpO2, changes in HR causing changes in SpO2 and changes in SpO2 causing changes in HR occurred with equal frequency (18%). DISCUSSION: Within this sample of acutely ill patients who experienced a CRI event, VAR modeling indicated that RR changes tend to occur before changes in HR and SpO2. These findings suggest that contextual assessment of RR changes as the earliest sign of CRI is warranted. Use of VAR modeling may be helpful in other nursing research applications based on time series data.

Falhas relacionadas à mensuração da pressão arterial entre acadêmicos de enfermagem / Failures related to the measurement of blood pressure among nursing students

Identificar falhas relacionadas à mensuração da pressão arterial entre acadêmicos de um curso degraduação em enfermagem. Métodos: estudo analítico, transversal, realizado em laboratório de habilidadessimulado com 76 acadêmicos, com aplicação de lista de verificação validada, contendo os 28 passos fundamentaispara avaliar a habilidade quanto à mensuração da pressão arterial em três blocos. Para verificar associação entremédias de cada falha, conforme os blocos por períodos do curso, utilizou-se Kruskall-Wallis e, a correlação,Spearman. Resultados: nos três blocos, observaram-se falhas nos passos: inadequação na seleção do materialnecessário; medição da circunferência do braço do cliente; não higienização das. A média de falhas foi menorno 5º e maior no 9º período. Conclusão: observou-se correlações positivas variando entre moderado a forteentre observações iniciais (p=0,67) passos das técnicas (p=0,81) e observações finais (p=0,43) da quantidadede falhas da pressão arterial por período.

Objective: to identify failures related to the measurement of blood pressure among students of an undergraduate degree in nursing. Methods: this is an analytical, cross-sectional study conducted in skill lab simulated with 76 students, with the application of validated checklist, containing 28 key steps to assess the ability as the measurement of blood pressure in three blocks. To verify the association between the means of each failure, as the blocks by the time of stroke, Kruskal-Wallis, and the correlation Spearman was used. Results: in the three blocks, there were failures in steps: inadequacy in the selection of equipment needed; measuring the patient arm circumference; washing hands. The average failure was lower in the 5th and largest in the 9th period. Conclusion: there were positive correlations ranging from moderate to strong between initial observations (p=0.67) steps of the techniques (p=0.81) and closing remarks (p=0.43) of failures blood pressure period.

Using Standardized Patients in Nursing Education: Effects on Students' Psychomotor Skill Development.

The present study used a quasi-experimental design to examine the effects of using standardized patients for the psychomotor skills development of nursing students. The performance of the experimental group in blood pressure measurement was significantly higher than that of the control group; however, there was no significant difference between the groups with regard to their administration of subcutaneous injections. The results indicated that standardized patients can be integrated into nursing education for developing psychomotor skills of students.

Validação de conteúdo de instrumento para avaliar o conhecimento acerca da medida da pressão arterial / Validación contenido de un instrumento para evaluar el conocimiento sobre la medición de la presión arterial / Content validation of an instrument to assess the knowledge about the measurement of blood pressure

Objective: To validate an instrument for assessment of knowledge of nursing students about the blood pressure measurement. Method: methodological study conducted with 27 judges nurses, teachers of the discipline of semiology and/or semiotics, with at least 1 year of experience in the disciplines, in three stages: literature review for the development of the knowledge questionnaire, submission to the judges; and content validation by the Kappa index, accepting the value> 0,61, and content Validity Index (CVI )> 0,75. Results: The 12 questions obtained Kappa and CVI within the parameters established for content validity, 7 showed perfect concordance index and 5 required modifications. Conclusion: It was not necessary remove questions of the instrument, which expresses that they have representation and extension about the domain of interest, facilitating the assessment of knowledge.

Objetivo: Validar um instrumento para avaliação sobre o conhecimento dos graduandos de enfermagem acerca da medida da pressão arterial. Método: Estudo metodológico, desenvolvido com 27 enfermeiros juízes, docentes da disciplina de semiologia e/ou semiotécnica, com no mínimo 1 ano de experiência nas disciplinas, em três etapas: levantamento da literatura para a elaboração do questionário do conhecimento; submissão aos juízes; e validação de conteúdo mediante o Índice Kappa, aceitando-se o valor > 0,61, e Índice de Validade de Conteúdo (IVC) > 0,75. Resultados: As 12 questões obtiveram Kappa e IVC dentro dos parâmetros estabelecidos para a validade de conteúdo, 7 apresentaram índice de concordância perfeito e 5 exigiam alterações. Conclusão: Não foi necessária a retirada de questões do instrumento, o que expressa que elas apresentam representatividade e extensão acerca do domínio de interesse, favorecendo a avaliação do conhecimento.

Objetivo: Validar instrumento para la evaluación de los conocimientos de los estudiantes de enfermería acerca de la medición de la presión arterial. Método: Estudio metodológico llevado a cabo con 27 jueces enfermeras, maestros de la disciplina de la semiótica y/o la semiótica, con al menos 1 año de experiencia en las disciplinas, en tres etapas: revisión de la literatura para el desarrollo del cuestionario de conocimientos, la sumisión a los jueces y validación de contenido mediante del índice de Kappa, aceptando el valor>0,61 y contenido Índice de Validez (CIV )>0,75 . Resultados: Las 12 preguntas obtenidas Kappa y CIV dentro de los parámetros establecidos para la validez de contenido, 7 mostraron índice de concordancia perfecta y 5 modificaciones requeridas . Conclusión: No fue necesario retirar las preguntas del instrumento, el cual expresa que tienen representación y extensión sobre el dominio de interés, lo que facilita la evaluación del conocimiento.

[Validation of an instrument for assessing the ability of blood pressure measurement]. / Validação de instrumento para avaliação da habilidade de mensuração da pressão arterial.

This study aimed to validate an instrument for evaluation the ability of nursing students to measure the blood pressure. It is a methodological study, developed with 27 nurses, teachers of semiology and/or semiotic disciplines, with at least 1 year of experience in disciplines, which acted as judges of the study. It was accomplished in two steps: first, a review of the literature to build the checklist instrument and subsequent submission for content validation by applying the Kappa, accepting the value > 0.61 (good level); and second, it was accomplished a Content Validity Index (CVI) > 0.75. Based on the literature review, 28 items were included in the checklist, with all of them showing Kappa index and CVI accepted for content validity, and nine of those items needed changes. The instrument can be considered valid in its content, with all its items being considered appropriate separately, as well as globally.

Theoretical and practical knowledge of nursing professionals on indirect blood pressure measurement at a coronary care unit.

OBJECTIVE: To determine and to analyze the theoretical and practical knowledge of Nursing professionals on indirect blood pressure measurement. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 31 professionals of a coronary care unit (86% of the Nursing staff in the unit). Of these, 38.7% of professionals were nurses and 61.3% nurse technicians. A validated questionnaire was used to theoretical evaluation and for practice assessment the auscultatory technique was applied in a simulation environment, under a non-participant observation. RESULTS: To the theoretical knowledge of the stages of preparation of patient and environment, 12.9% mentioned 5-minute of rest, 48.4% checked calibration, and 29.0% chose adequate cuff width. A total of 64.5% of professionals avoided rounding values, and 22.6% mentioned the 6-month deadline period for the equipment calibration. On average, in practice assessment, 65% of the steps were followed. Lacks in knowledge were primary concerning lack of checking the device calibration and stethoscope, measurement of arm circumference to choose the cuff size, and the record of arm used in blood pressure measurement. CONCLUSION: Knowledge was poor and had disparities between theory and practice with evidence of steps taken without proper awareness and lack of consideration of important knowledge during implementation of blood pressure measurement. Educational and operational interventions should be applied systematically with institutional involvement to ensure safe care with reliable values.