To think this nurse was unprofessional?

[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. 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 the machine doesn't know about whitecoat hypertension...Regardless of whether that's an issue or not, the BP that was taken manually and with one of your machines matched, so it's right. The BP might be on the high side only in the GP's surgery but the nurse has confirmed it's working OK. Bin the other one and keep your 7 day log with the machine she used.

Also, you mention you measured your arm but you should measure your sisters. You seem to be getting very confused about who's actually got the issue.

Doesn't matter, it's an appt with a healthcare professional. Nurses aren't there to check your machines are working, send them back to where you bought them if you think there's an issue with them.

Also think it's absolutely ridiculous to take an appointment up for this.

I suppose you have to go with the nurses reading and if you don’t trust that, get it checked elsewhere. Or buy a new machine if it needs to be done at home, I’m not sure what the alternative is really but if you buy a new one stick with it and don’t keep checking on the old ones . It is bizarre they are giving such different readings.

I've only skimmed through your replies OP not others...so apologies if already suggested.

I'm the same with having my blood pressure taken by a nurse/Dr in that the second the machine starts I can feel myself clamimg up.

Has your DSis's surgery got a blood pressure machine in the waiting room, the type you put your arm in and press the button, then off it goes.

If so could she take a test there in her own time and then sit and use her own machines after a few minutes or just take the printout reading home and see which of her machines is closest.

Another thing is if the batteries are a bit low the readings maybe incorrect.

Hey Steff, it would have mattered which she checked as we experimented at home with both. One consistently reads so much lower than the other, but only on my sister. Doesn't matter if we use the lower machine first, wait five minutes and then test with the higher machine or the opposite way round. The lower machine will always be lower

Bin both machines. And buy a new one

Hey no, unfortunately not. Wish they did have one in the waiting room to use at that would have been perfect to test both against that without our disgusting behaviour (that some have said) of a nurse appointment we didnt even book ourselves

We did wonder if batteries could be the problem so put new batteries in both, but still the same problem. One machine (always the same one) constantly reading lower no matter if we use it first or last

It is really bizarre as everyone else in the family, their readings are identical. Like within points of each other. But then on my sister they are constantly so far out with the same one always being lower and the same one always being higher, no matter which one we use first

So at this point why aren't you happy with the evidence from the test in the surgery that the one she tested is the right one to keep using, and either bin the one which offers the lower reading or just don't use it for your sister as she is the only one with a problem with it.

Like I say, because it seemed she'd made her mind up there and then which was going to be correct when she told us to bin one before checking either

I don’t think it was that bad. I think you are a bit sensitive.
It sounds like a bit of a crazy story that only your SIL gets different readings, and the nurse did check one against her own, and said it was correct.
blood pressures are so variable from one minute to the next almost, I think a 10-15mmhg difference on a home monitor would not be too bad. Not ideal, but you would get a picture, and over time your sister would get her BP checked regularly.
the difference between 150 and 165 doesn’t make a big difference in treatment I think. They would both be cause for concern.
And if they were lower, say comparing 135 and 150 over a period of 7 days it would show a pattern of going higher or lower depending on the stress of the day etc.

I also think that the nurse might have just seen someone truly suffering with a terminal illness etc, and this might have been the best she could do in a jam packed schedule, you don’t always get to decompress between one person and the next.

I think you are kind to worry about your sister so much, she is very lucky.

Why Do you not think it important to have an accurate BP reading, given the consequences of it remaining high ? Do you not think the nurse thought it significant and that’s why the appointment was given ?

But it only does that on your sister, not on you or the other people you tested, ergo the problem is your sister not the machine.

As she actually told you to bin one - which is quite an extreme thing to say - it's likely that she could judge just by looking at them which one was going to be the more accurate one.

Or she guessed - it was 50/50 chance.

I'm sure if the reading for the one she tested had been wildly off then she'd have taken a look at the second machine.

Thanks :) Honestly, it wish it was just a crazy story but actually experimented a few times I've checked myself with both machines and both numbers literally within 5 points of each other. Check my sister with both and always a 15 sometimes 20 point difference between both machines, with the same machine always being lower no matter which was round we use it

Maybe you could learn how to take a manual reading? It's not that difficult. Your sister could too. That way you know you're getting the right reading every time

I was put on bp medication for a short while and had to take some readings at home then go back. The nurse specifically asked me to bring my machine with me to my appointment so that she could compare readings and make sure my own one was accurate. I believe the machines should be calibrated every so often? I think it's quite reasonable to get a check up of your bp and ask her to check your machine at the same time.

Exactly, thought it was a bit wrong of her to straight away tell us which to bin without even checking. Just that doubt in mind with that, that she'd made her mind up judged which was accurate and then just told us she'd got the same reading if that makes sense

Honestly, had it not been for her telling us straight away to bin one and the doubt of her pre judging which was accurate, would have trusted her more

Tbh, I know others who have had problems with this same nurse with her talking over them and not listening properly to them etc

Yes, I’m not saying you are lying! But to hear that account you would spend a chunk of time thinking wtf? It’s definitely one to get your head around.
Im wondering if the cuffs are different sizes or shapes? Or if your sister has big arms or very small arms?
I don’t think she would have lied about checking it either, it’s not worth her PIN.

Well it sounds like most of you replying know fuck all about this issue and love being snidy and judgemental about how other people use the Doctor. If the NHS was funded properly you wouldn't be so petty and awful to people who need to use it for a valid service. If you saw the NHS website you would be surprised what they recommend you book an appointment for. Doctors aren't just sitting around waiting for you and your special important condition you know. They do see other people sometimes.
OP, just do as she says and use the machine she told you to. You are over thinking this.

The weird thing is, we've even tried using the same cuff on both machines (but putting the correct connector bit on for each machine) in case size was the issue. But still get the same thing, even after measuring my sisters arm to check cuff size too

So the real issue is you don't really trust her enough to believe she gave you the right result.

My advice then would be to do the monitoring using the machine she did test. Then when your sister comes to her GP appointment to discuss the results, bring your machine in again and do the check again against the surgery one on the day. That should put an end to the wondering.

Last time when I was at my surgery the nurse said to me to bring my own blood pressure monitor to check if it gives accurate readings, and compare with the one at the surgery.

so Op did the right thing.

Actually this is a good suggestion