Using Driscoll's Reflection Model: Measuring Blood Pressure

This essay is a reflection of my first clinical simulation, using Driscoll’s (2000) reflection model. For this simulation I took the role of measuring blood pressure. According to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN 2015) blood pressure needs to be checked to identify how much the blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels. The blood pressure is checked as a routine, along with the patient’s temperature, pulse and respiratory rate (vital signs).
For this scenario my colleague and I entered the room and washed our hands according to the Nursing Times (2013) six steps; this is to reduce the risk of infections and, to avoid contamination between environment and human contact. Then when we entered the patient’s environment we disinfected our
I assisted my colleague by timing sixty seconds, got the data sheet ready and began to fill out the patients’ information. After I recorded the temperature on the data sheet, I got my equipment ready for taking blood pressure by ensuring it worked and released when pumped as this could cause injury to the patient and to disinfect the stethoscope; while I did this I told the patient about what this test would do and what it meant. Following the Royal College of Nursing (RCN 2015) method of measuring blood pressure I located the brachial artery found on the left upper arm front of the elbow closest to the heart. Once I found the brachial artery I applied the pressure cuff, with the arrow over the brachial artery ensuring it tightly fitted, thus making sure that there is enough space for the diaphragm of the stethoscope. It has been noted by the Royal college of Nursing (RCN 2015) that the bladder of the cuff should cover 80% of the arm in order in inflate correctly. Following that I estimated the systolic
Following the World Health Organization (2009) guidelines on hand hygiene in healthcare, by demonstrating the seven hand washing steps and the five moments of handing washing. I have been able to identify where I need to work on for my next simulation, I feel that I need to improve my knowledge of data interpretation and what that means for the patient. I also need to know the normal blood pressure ranges for children and adults according to the Resuscitation Council (2010). During the simulation I found myself standing around while my colleague checked the temperature, instead I could have been getting the blood pressure equipment, and ensuring it was ready. Following this, according to the Journal of Human Hypertension (2002); I should have also used a pillow for the patients arm to rest while I took the patients’ blood pressure, this would have provided a more accurate result and more comfort for the