title: Theoretical and practical knowledge of nursing professionals on indirect blood pressure measurement at a coronary care unit.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Pereira
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eugenia Velludo
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo Alexandre Camargo
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Carlos Amado
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Queiroz Godoy
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda dos Santos
authors.initials: Ados S
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Costa Dos Santos da
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000451:nursing* / Q000592:standards; D001938:Brazil; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors