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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:
Kosenrufugirl · 19/06/2025 17:47

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:25

The thing is, for everyone else in our family the machines are giving readings close to each other, for example I checked with both this afternoon and 132/85 on one machine, then 5 minutes later 130/84 on the other. My sister's top number is a much bigger difference 15- 20 points. So i don't think the machines are inaccurate, just for some reason they are on my sister

Some people naturally tense once the blood pressure machine starts whirring. Your sister should let someone else check her blood pressure while avoiding looking at the machines (unless they make distinctive sounds). And take 3 readings by each machine. If the first reading is a lot higher I would be inclined to discard it and believe the other 2.

It's not the nurse's job to calibrate home (or even surgery) divices. Saying this, she could have been nicer.

ThingsgetbetterwithalittlebitofRazzmatazz · 19/06/2025 17:40

Also, are both a good fit on her arm? If the cuff is too big or too small for her then that will affect the reading.

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:39

ThingsgetbetterwithalittlebitofRazzmatazz · 19/06/2025 17:34

Is she always testing first with one, and then the other? Has she tried doing the other way around? Some people always get a high reading on the first reading, we usually advise to take 3 readings 5 minutes apart. Ignore the first and use the best of the next 2 readings.

Hi :) yeah we've tried it both ways round and its always the same amount of difference whichever way we do it, with the same machine being 15-20 points lower on systolic than the other. Even if we test on the machine reading lower first, the other machine will still be 15-20 points higher after sitting another 5 minutes with feet flat on floor and back supported and arm at heart level

OP posts:
Bobbie12345678 · 19/06/2025 17:38

If the monitors are identical for most people they are probably good.
Maybe your sister has very variable readings?

Tattletail · 19/06/2025 17:36

To save confusion I would get your sister her own new machine and no one else use it.

what I was trying to get at was if your sister's BP is extremely high, it would be better for everyone if she went to an appointment with the GP that was addressing this and her BP medication rather then splitting hairs about a machine. Because the problem of the machine has not been solved, your sister's hypertension has not been addressed and you are now worrying even more.

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:36

popcornpower2025 · 19/06/2025 17:29

Then your sister should have a gp appointment to explore if she has a blood pressure issue. What is absolutely inappropriate is expecting a nurse to test out your machines

We already know she has a blood pressure issue!! And to be honest, everyone's having a go like she booked the appointment herself. She messaged on our online portal explaining the problem with one machine actually reading in the high category and one very low. It was them that then gave an appointment, she didnt book it to waste their time on purpose like some comments here are suggesting
The problem is her blood pressure shoots up in the surgery so they advised home blood pressure monitoring

OP posts:
JabbaTheBeachHut · 19/06/2025 17:35

Oh come on now OP.

You can check your blood pressure in most Chemist shops that have weight/height check machines.

ThingsgetbetterwithalittlebitofRazzmatazz · 19/06/2025 17:34

Is she always testing first with one, and then the other? Has she tried doing the other way around? Some people always get a high reading on the first reading, we usually advise to take 3 readings 5 minutes apart. Ignore the first and use the best of the next 2 readings.

Vedette89 · 19/06/2025 17:34

I'm confused whether it you or your sister who has to do the daily monitoring. Why do you have 2 machines that you're comparing anyway? This sounds anxiety based to be honest, are you getting support with that ? Could your sister go to the pharmacy /GPs which presumably will have a blood pressure machine in the corner to use ?

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:31

Annascaul · 19/06/2025 17:18

Indeed. I can’t believe they entertained you, op.

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?

OP posts:
popcornpower2025 · 19/06/2025 17:29

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:25

The thing is, for everyone else in our family the machines are giving readings close to each other, for example I checked with both this afternoon and 132/85 on one machine, then 5 minutes later 130/84 on the other. My sister's top number is a much bigger difference 15- 20 points. So i don't think the machines are inaccurate, just for some reason they are on my sister

Then your sister should have a gp appointment to explore if she has a blood pressure issue. What is absolutely inappropriate is expecting a nurse to test out your machines

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:28

Mrsttcno1 · 19/06/2025 17:22

Another person shocked they gave you a GP appointment for this, this is what a pharmacy can do.

Sounds like she did a manual check which confirmed one reading, why would she need to check the second machine?

It was an appointment with one of the nurses they gave her, not with one of the GPs

OP posts:
ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:27

TheignT · 19/06/2025 17:20

I'd go to your local pharmacy. I had a machine on loan from the surgery as they wanted me to monitor my BP readings, then I bought my own. Not sure why people think it is unreasonable to go to surgery for support when they want you to monitor it.

Hi, exactly. They've requested a 7 day diary, but if she notes down the readings from one machine it puts her in the stage 2 hypertension category. But the other puts her in the normal and sometimes low category

OP posts:
Finteq · 19/06/2025 17:26

Throw them both away and buy a new machine

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:25

Tattletail · 19/06/2025 17:19

The probablem isn't the machine, or the nurse. The probablem is yours (or your sister's) BP is high. You're better off making a new appointment to address this and your medication rather then wasting time checking if the machines are accurate.

If you are really worried about their accuracy maybe scrap both and get 1 new one.

The thing is, for everyone else in our family the machines are giving readings close to each other, for example I checked with both this afternoon and 132/85 on one machine, then 5 minutes later 130/84 on the other. My sister's top number is a much bigger difference 15- 20 points. So i don't think the machines are inaccurate, just for some reason they are on my sister

OP posts:
TheignT · 19/06/2025 17:22

CrackOnThen · 19/06/2025 17:18

I also think she should just throw the one away that’s giving her an unreliable reading.

She was trying to find out which one was inaccurate. That was the point.

Mrsttcno1 · 19/06/2025 17:22

Another person shocked they gave you a GP appointment for this, this is what a pharmacy can do.

Sounds like she did a manual check which confirmed one reading, why would she need to check the second machine?

Drangea · 19/06/2025 17:20

But you are the one with hypertension? So why does it matter what reading your sister is getting?

TheignT · 19/06/2025 17:20

I'd go to your local pharmacy. I had a machine on loan from the surgery as they wanted me to monitor my BP readings, then I bought my own. Not sure why people think it is unreasonable to go to surgery for support when they want you to monitor it.

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:19

CrackOnThen · 19/06/2025 17:18

I also think she should just throw the one away that’s giving her an unreliable reading.

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

OP posts:
Tattletail · 19/06/2025 17:19

The probablem isn't the machine, or the nurse. The probablem is yours (or your sister's) BP is high. You're better off making a new appointment to address this and your medication rather then wasting time checking if the machines are accurate.

If you are really worried about their accuracy maybe scrap both and get 1 new one.

Annascaul · 19/06/2025 17:18

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 19/06/2025 17:10

You used a GP appointment because you weren't sure if your blood pressure machines were working correctly??

Indeed. I can’t believe they entertained you, op.

ThisCoolOP · 19/06/2025 17:18

screwyou · 19/06/2025 17:14

I am only shocked a Nurse would waste her time with you under these circumstances and I am a Nurse.

With readings as high as 170/100, not really a waste of time

OP posts:
CrackOnThen · 19/06/2025 17:18

I also think she should just throw the one away that’s giving her an unreliable reading.

wordywitch · 19/06/2025 17:18

Do you have health anxiety?