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To think this nurse was unprofessional?

383 replies

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:06

So I went for an appointment at my GP surgery to try and verify the accuracy of two home blood pressure monitors we have in our house. The two monitors give virtually identical readings to each other for everyone in our family - but for my sister one reads 10 - 15 points lower than the other on thr systolic number.

During the appointment, my sister attempted to explain the situation and that she wanted to compare both machines against a manual reading. The nurse immediately told her to "just bin" one of the machines without any attempt to even compare it

The nurse then proceeded to only check one of the machines (the one that reads lower). When the machine displayed a reading of 150/100, she then performed a "manual check" and literally immediately stated "yeah 150/100". Might be just me, but this rapid confirmation seems like the nurse was simply just re-stating the reading she had seen on the machines screen (literally told me her reading was the exact same number) rather than conducting a genuine, independent manual verification. Her pre-judgement of which machine was correct was evident from the beginning, as she refused to consider checking the second machine, despite my clear explanation of the discrepancy of both machines for me, but identical readings for the rest of the family

As a result, I was left in the exact same position I was in before the appointment. I actually suffer from anxiety and came back in tears at how sharp and unhelpful she had been, and because it seemed she had made her mind up there and then she was only checking one machine and that was the correct one (despite them giving the same readings for everyone else), i don't trust what she told me at all

OP posts:
Digdongdoo · 19/06/2025 18:57

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 18:55

As i said, didn't just take up an appointment on purpose like some comments seem to be implying :( filled out the form online our online surgery portal explaining the issue. It was triaged and they could have quite easily told had to go to a pharmacy. Instead, they booked an appointment! Didn't book to intentionally waste time like some comments are being quite harsh about :(

Well you didn't take up an appointment by accident did you? You asked for one, and went to it. That's on purpose.

MsOvary · 19/06/2025 18:57

I have to take my blood pressure every day and can get different readings dependent on where my arm is situated in relation to my heart.
I voted you were unreasonable as you have wasted a GP appointment on this. It’s not even as if your sister is the one who needs an accurate blood reading. Are your readings consistent?
if your blood pressure was too high you’d probably have symptoms ( which you become familiar with if you have high blood pressure regularly).
worrying about your bp machines and nurses attitudes is not going to help your bp. You’d be better off meditating.

Mrsttcno1 · 19/06/2025 18:57

She doesn’t need to check both! One & a manual reading confirms the accurate one, which is what she did.

If you think you know better than a nurse then you would be able to do a manual reading yourself to check, yes?

You asked for advice from the nurse, you got it, if you want to waste someone else’s time pay for their time.

MoominUnderWater · 19/06/2025 18:57

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 18:52

But that is the thing....
Had she actually checked both machines to see how far out each one was, that would have set mind at rest. And would have been able to fill out the diary knowing which was actually most accurate
But the nurse had made her mind up from the beginning which was correct. If she'd have actually been nice about it, not straight away off hand "just bin that one, I'm only checking this one" kind of thing. But she seemed to make her mind up from the beginning and reading exactly the same number of the screen to me

Set whose mind at rest? Yours or your sisters?

why do you think the nurse had made her mind up beforehand which machine was more accurate? She had to do one first. If the first one is accurate then that’s that problem solved. You have an accurate bp machine you can use 🤷‍♀️

outerspacepotato · 19/06/2025 18:56

"Had she actually checked both machines to see how far out each one was, that would have set mind at rest. "

Taking multiple bps in a short period of time can raise the readings. That's not an accurate check.

She is a nurse, not a biomed tech. Your doctor's office is not there to check and service your home medical equipment.

Digdongdoo · 19/06/2025 18:55

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 18:52

But that is the thing....
Had she actually checked both machines to see how far out each one was, that would have set mind at rest. And would have been able to fill out the diary knowing which was actually most accurate
But the nurse had made her mind up from the beginning which was correct. If she'd have actually been nice about it, not straight away off hand "just bin that one, I'm only checking this one" kind of thing. But she seemed to make her mind up from the beginning and reading exactly the same number of the screen to me

So go to a pharmacy and check the accuracy with their machine. Or buy a new one. You can resolve this yourself so easily.

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 18:55

AmberTurtles · 19/06/2025 18:48

So you took up an appointment for that?! Wow 🤨

As i said, didn't just take up an appointment on purpose like some comments seem to be implying :( filled out the form online our online surgery portal explaining the issue. It was triaged and they could have quite easily told had to go to a pharmacy. Instead, they booked an appointment! Didn't book to intentionally waste time like some comments are being quite harsh about :(

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 19/06/2025 18:54

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 18:29

Not with both machines she didn't! She had made her mind up from the beginning which was the correct one without checking both, and literally just read the exact same number back from the screen

She doesn’t need to check both, she just needs to check 1 & a manual one to confirm - which she did.

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 18:52

isitme111 · 19/06/2025 18:45

ThisCoolOP

So I went for an appointment at my GP surgery to try and verify the accuracy of two home blood pressure monitors we have in our house.

A nurses role is to take blood pressure and let the patient know the reading. This nurse most definitely was not unprofessional.

But that is the thing....
Had she actually checked both machines to see how far out each one was, that would have set mind at rest. And would have been able to fill out the diary knowing which was actually most accurate
But the nurse had made her mind up from the beginning which was correct. If she'd have actually been nice about it, not straight away off hand "just bin that one, I'm only checking this one" kind of thing. But she seemed to make her mind up from the beginning and reading exactly the same number of the screen to me

OP posts:
CoastalCalm · 19/06/2025 18:52

You’re taking about a 10 or 15 difference , blood pressure medication isn’t going to suddenly mean you / your sister are dangerously low pressure - my blood pressure goes from about 85 to 110 on a very good day

andthat · 19/06/2025 18:49

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:31

Entertained me? Do you not think if a machine is reading at the level where the NHS website advises its extremely high and to contact your local surgery its important to actually get checked?

Of course it is @ThisCoolOP

Some people are just dicks.

AmberTurtles · 19/06/2025 18:48

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:19

Thats the thing, we don't know which one is giving the inaccurate readings! If both machines were checked then we would know and actually be able to complete the 7 day monitoring form requested

So you took up an appointment for that?! Wow 🤨

mumda · 19/06/2025 18:48

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 18:34

No I have not made my mind up about it happening, I've wrote exactly as it happened! My sister is the one with the BP problem and the couple of paragraphs where it says I, should say my sister. I'd sent it to a friend i know and missed changing a couple of the I's!

Ring the local chemist and ask them whether you can calibrate your BP machines there.

Ours does bp readings.

BP is serious!

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 18:47

Horserider5678 · 19/06/2025 18:41

They suggest random home monitoring not obsessive home monitoring!

It's not obsessive!!!! Honestly. As someone else has pointed out which is more a waste of resources?????? 1 appointment to check both machines and use the one closest to a manual reading

Or pick one machine, fill out a 7 day diary and find out treatment is wrong to then have to do it all over again???

OP posts:
isitme111 · 19/06/2025 18:45

ThisCoolOP

So I went for an appointment at my GP surgery to try and verify the accuracy of two home blood pressure monitors we have in our house.

A nurses role is to take blood pressure and let the patient know the reading. This nurse most definitely was not unprofessional.

Greybeardy · 19/06/2025 18:45

Horserider5678 · 19/06/2025 18:36

It’s not the responsibility of the practice to tell you which machine is correct! If it had been I’d have told you to bin both of them! Home monitoring is notoriously unrealisable as machines aren’t regularly calibrated, incorrect positioning of the cuff affects it along with which arm you use! Add to which you are supposed to record the best of 3 with each measurement around 5 minutes apart!

home monitoring is completely standard these days and, outside of the context of a few vascular conditions, it doesn't really matter which arm you use because they should be roughly the same. Where there is a big difference between arms that's a different problem to bog-standard hypertension. Cuff size (more than positioning) can be a problem, particularly at the extremes of weight.

MissMoneyFairy · 19/06/2025 18:45

Perhaps with your severe health anxiety you may not be the best person to accompany your sister to her appointments.

ThierryHwasthebest · 19/06/2025 18:42

"As a result, I was left in the exact same position I was in before the appointment. I actually suffer from anxiety and came back in tears at how sharp and unhelpful she had been, and because it seemed she had made her mind up there and then she was only checking one machine and that was the correct one (despite them giving the same readings for everyone else), i don't trust what she told me at all".
I am not sure why you keep referring to you in this scenario and your anxiety?

Horserider5678 · 19/06/2025 18:41

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 18:32

Not if whitecoat hypertension is the problem! Some people's blood pressure shoots up in a medical environment, which is why they suggested monitoring at home on your own machine

They suggest random home monitoring not obsessive home monitoring!

Smugzebra · 19/06/2025 18:41

Sorry I'm not sure what they are supposed to have done wrong? She checked the BP manually against the BP given on one of the machines and it was correct, so one of the machines is correct, which is great. Job done. What was the wrong-doing here?

Horserider5678 · 19/06/2025 18:40

Figsaregood · 19/06/2025 18:37

I can't believe how many people are giving you a hard time OP, for doing exactly what your practice advises and booking an appointment. I agree with you that you need to establish which machine is correct, because you are testing for 7 days. Why test on a faulty machine for 7 days, submit the results, find they are wrong and have to do it all over again? That would be a waste of NHS resources. How long would it actually take for the health professional to test you twice? Minutes. (Your practice booked you in with a nurse, but they could have booked you in with someone else. Their choice).
And for those suggesting the OP should test on a pharmacy machine or a GP practice machine, coming straight in off the street and testing is not ideal. The guidelines say to wait for 15 mins to let your BP settle. Also, as someone else mentioned, BP varies throughout the day.
Good luck in getting to the bottom of it OP. Once established that you are testing correctly you will feel much more confident about the process.
All these shirty comments are enough to raise your blood pressure ! 😄

Really? It’s not down to the practice to tell her which machine is correct! If every person with a blood pressure machine booked an appointment for just this there would be absolutely no appointments! GP generally give the patient a range to get concerned about and that’s when they should get it checked!

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 19/06/2025 18:40

I think engaging is a waste of time. OP is clearly an unreliable narrator. I just hope she doesn't make trouble for the poor nurse.

Digdongdoo · 19/06/2025 18:40

You could have dealt with this yourself within an hour at a pharmacy. By all means call the GP if you've got high BP, but not just in case one of your machines might be faulty. Bloody check first. What a waste of the nurses time.

Sultanofzanzibar · 19/06/2025 18:39

This thread has sent my blood pressure up

outerspacepotato · 19/06/2025 18:39

It's not your doctor's office's job to check or manage your home medical equipment. They weren't rude.

If the readings are high, go to the pharmacy for a BP check or where there's a machine, or make an appointment for you or your sister, whoever's having the high readings, to be seen and have medication adjusted if necessary.

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