Mean arterial pressure calculations in nursing: Learn how to calculate the MAP and practice some mean arterial calculation problems.
What is a mean arterial pressure (MAP)? Mean arterial pressure is the pressure in your arteries during one 
cardiac cycle, and it tells us how well the vital organs (like the renal system, brain etc.) are being perfused. In addition with the brain, the MAP is very important when calculating the cerebral perfusion pressure.
The MAP should be >65 mmHg.
Normal 70-100 mmHg
To calculate the MAP:
You need to know the patient’s blood pressure and this formula:
MAP= SBP + 2(DBP)
3
*systolic blood pressure PLUS (diastolic blood pressure which is multiplied by 2) and then DIVIDED by 3.
Let’s work a problem:
BP: 102/38
38 x 2=76
76 + 102 = 178
178/3=59.33333…..59 mmHg= MAP
Lecture
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Mean Arterial Pressure Practice Problems
1. Patient’s blood pressure is: 155/98 What is the patient’s MAP?
A. 89 mmHg
B. 75 mmHg
C. 117 mmHg
D. 96 mmHg
The answer is C.
2. Patient’s blood pressure is: 76/28 What is the patient’s MAP?
A. 44 mmHg
B. 52 mmHg
C. 63 mmHg
D. 79 mmHg
The answer is A.
3. Patient’s blood pressure is: 220/118 What is the patient’s MAP?
A. 99 mmHg
B. 36 mmHg
C. 89 mmHg
D. 152 mmHg
The answer is D.
4. Patient’s blood pressure is: 160/102 What is the patient’s MAP and how do you interpret this finding?
A. 100 mmHg, normal
B. 121 mmHg, high
C. 65 mmHg, normal
D. 86 mmHg, low
The answer is B.
5. Patient’s blood pressure is: 80/56 What is the patient’s MAP and how do you interpret this finding?
A. 78 mmHg, normal
B. 96 mmHg, low
C. 86 mmHg, normal
D. 64 mmHg, low
The answer is D.
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