Healthcare Pathway Students Guide to Blood Pressure Skills
March 6, 2025 2025-11-18 23:47Healthcare Pathway Students Guide to Blood Pressure Skills
By: Vasumathi Rajaji
Innovation Academy’s Health Career Pathway continues to provide students with hands-on experience and useful information for their future as health care professionals. Students in the class in Patient Care Fundamentals, a class to prepare students to sit for the certification exam to become a Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT), and students in the class in Surgical Technician Skills recently accomplished a milestone—learning to measure blood pressure with a manual sphygmomanometer. This was a fundamental part of taking care of a patient since blood pressure is one of the most important of the basic signs to measure a person’s health. Working with a manual sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope, students learned to measure blood pressure correctly and interpret potential health problems. It required a keen eye for detail, a measure of patience, and understanding what blood pressure indicates about cardiac function and overall health. With a step-by-step approach and practice, students felt confident with their new ability to take this helpful process. Taking a blood pressure with a manual sphygmomanometer is a gateway to their career as a health care provider.
Manual blood pressure is still a standard in healthcare, instead of greater use of electronic monitors. Electronic devices are simple to use but are not necessarily more accurate, specifically in a crisis or in a dysrhythmic heart. Manual readings serve as a backup to electronic readings and reassurance in life-or-death emergencies. By being able to apply a blood pressure reading manually, students can better learn about cardiovascular health, systolic and diastolic pressure, and blood pressure dynamics. This technique is also a reminder of stress techniques, such as cuff placement, stethoscope auscultation, and blood flow sound. Learning this technique at this point prepares students for actual healthcare settings, where completeness and accuracy can be a matter of life and death.
The hands-on experience that students in Innovation Academy gain is priceless in preparing them for professional practice as medical professionals. While being taught to use a blood pressure reader manually, a student is not only being taught technical skills but also increased responsibility and better patient care. Manual blood pressure taking develops problem-solving and analytical minds, a requirement for any health practitioner. Teamwork is developed in this practice as well since students learn in groups and practice in groups to develop their skills. Such programs reduce gaps between theoretical practice and clinical practice. The interest and commitment of our students in the field of medicine reflects their commitment to professionalism. As Innovation Academy continues to expand its healthcare program, students will have greater access to experiential learning and foundational career skills. Success in blood pressure training is only one in a series of important steps toward a successful healthcare provider. Well-established in skills in patient care, students will be better prepared for certification examinations, upcoming course work, and clinical practice. Accurate and compassionate healthcare relies on highly skilled professionals, and Innovation Academy is happy to be developing healthcare professionals for the future. We are assisting students in having a positive impact in healthcare with continuing learning and hands-on experience.
