Closing the Gap: Standardizing Blood Pressure Measurement Training for all Healthcare Students

A common barrier to the timely treatment of hypertension is the accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP). Although measuring BP is a common procedure, training and retraining on this skill is often inadequate. A study led by the American Medical Association (AMA), found that the education system has failed to establish and maintain this skill among a sample of medical students who were tested. The AMA Student BP Measurement eLearning Series is designed to address this gap in training and ensure all students feel confident and competent in performing this critical skill. By creating a readily implementable eLearning Series and collaborating with 10 healthcare education institutions, significant strides have been made toward standardizing BP measurement training. However, to truly address both the gaps in training and the performance gaps in BP measurement skills, faculty across healthcare disciplines must take an active role in standardizing this essential skill for all students. We urge all healthcare faculty to adopt and champion this standardized approach, embedding it early in education, reinforcing it throughout training, and assessing proficiency regularly. A universal commitment to standardization will equip the next generation of healthcare professionals with the competence and confidence needed to measure BP accurately, ultimately improving hypertension diagnosis, treatment, and health outcomes for patients nationwide.