A decision-making algorithm for blood pressure measurements

Reliance on invasive blood pressure techniques can be problematic for nurses working in critical care units, as discrepancies are frequently noted between cuff and invasive blood pressure readings. Critical care nurses need a repertoire of decision-making techniques that assist them when they are caring for clients with this type of discrepancy. This paper describes an algorithm based on analytical techniques which is helpful to the nurse in making decisions about whether the invasive or noninvasive pressure is accurate.