MD & DO BP Cuff purchase?

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mybluedog

mybluedog

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Hello! pre-MS1 newbie checking in here!

My school has contacted us about buying some equipment for orientation and they did say $40+ are prices for solid BP cuffs.

How often am I going to actually be pulling out my own BP cuff and taking vitals, though? I feel like everywhere I go will have a set of BP machine for us to use, so I'm thinking about saving some $$$.
I saw this one that had pretty good reviews? Can someone help me out and see if this is worth saving $20?

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/2LPZhCe

Thank you!!!!
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mybluedog said:
Hello! pre-MS1 newbie checking in here!

My school has contacted us about buying some equipment for orientation and they did say $40+ are prices for solid BP cuffs.

How often am I going to actually be pulling out my own BP cuff and taking vitals, though? I feel like everywhere I go will have a set of BP machine for us to use, so I'm thinking about saving some $$$.
I saw this one that had pretty good reviews? Can someone help me out and see if this is worth saving $20?

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/2LPZhCe

Thank you!!!!
Click to expand...

Our school made us by a crazy expensive BP cuff that is cumbersome. It was mandatory. I just started second year and so far we have used them for standard patient clinical exams, community outreach health fairs, clinical skills lab on each other, mission trips... not sure how it will go later.
 
sunshinefl said:
Our school made us by a crazy expensive BP cuff that is cumbersome. It was mandatory. I just started second year and so far we have used them for standard patient clinical exams, community outreach health fairs, clinical skills lab on each other, mission trips... not sure how it will go later.
Click to expand...

I want to say it was like $180/200 for the set, adult and pediatric cuffs.
 
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sunshinefl said:
I want to say it was like $180/200 for the set, adult and pediatric cuffs.
Click to expand...
damn okay. I guess I'll just buy the one they suggested which was ~$40. Any other sdners want to chip in?
 
I lost mine after my first rotation of third year and haven't needed it since. Used it during a couple of OSCEs in the first two years and a workshop or two.

Get the cheaper one if you need to get one at all.
 
outside practicing on classmates a couple times, no use. We also had a "required tools" type thing, but even for OSCE's our rooms have all the stuff. Outside a stethoscope, don't bother spending any more that you have to. Amazon is your friend for cheap stuff, so you at least have something to blindly looking into your classmates while also blinding them
 
Never bought one, never needed one. Given how neurotic med students are, odds are most of your classmates will buy them and you can borrow one of theirs. Or see if a 3rd or 4th year---who won't need it on rotations---is looking to unload theirs.
 
Bought the expensive one first year, and then never actually used it on a real patient once I hit rotations. Buy one for your preclinical classes but don’t spend tons of money on it.
 
I bought a cheap one off Amazon, and it worked great. When I'm in clinic/OSCEs, cuffs are provided so I really only use it to practice or take family members' blood pressure lol.
 
I'd wait until you arrive and see if any older students are selling theirs. At my school it was required and I did use it a decent amount in MS1/MS2 but never again after that. Could probably have gotten away with never owning one if I tried.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
mybluedog said:
Hello! pre-MS1 newbie checking in here!

My school has contacted us about buying some equipment for orientation and they did say $40+ are prices for solid BP cuffs.

How often am I going to actually be pulling out my own BP cuff and taking vitals, though? I feel like everywhere I go will have a set of BP machine for us to use, so I'm thinking about saving some $$$.
I saw this one that had pretty good reviews? Can someone help me out and see if this is worth saving $20?

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/2LPZhCe

Thank you!!!!
Click to expand...
I was told to buy one, including other tools, and I never did. Needed it once, maybe twice, for an evaluated standardized patient encounter. Borrowed a friend's and never needed it since.
 
Why in the world would you ever have to purchase your own BP cuff??? If you ever really need to take a BP, there will be equipment for you to use.

Reminds me of when schools tell people to buy their own ophthalmoscopes

Nick-Young.jpg
 
lol thanks sdn fam! I got it figured out!
 
Usually patient rooms will have BP cuffs - they're either the manual ones or they're attached to the wall. Super useful. If it's not required, I would hold off and see what the set-up is. You can always borrow one until you need to order one. With Prime, you'll get it pretty soon anyway.

I think of all the basic pieces of equipment, I think a pocket pulse ox is probably the most useful. In the hospital, you'll probably always have one accessible but in terms of personal medical equipment, a pulse ox can tell you a whole lot. Other than the stethoscope of course.
 
Oso said:
Why in the world would you ever have to purchase your own BP cuff??? If you ever really need to take a BP, there will be equipment for you to use.

Reminds me of when schools tell people to buy their own ophthalmoscopes

Nick-Young.jpg
Click to expand...

My school “suggested” everyone have their own ophthalmoscopes AND otoscopes... i couldn’t afford that and didn’t buy them. Didn’t need it.
 
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