Question

A patient arrives at a medical clinic for a routine physical exam. The patient's blood pressure (BP) is 150/94 mm Hg. All other assessment findings are within normal limits, and there is no previous history of elevated blood pressure. The nurse suspects that the falsely high blood pressure was caused by what?

Answer 1

The blood pressure cuff was too small.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is essential for the blood pressure cuff to be the proper size or you will not get an accurate reading. The ideal width of the inflatable part of the cuff is that it should cover at least 40 percent of the circumference of the upper arm. The bladder length should be 80 percent from the patient’s elbow to the shoulder. Using a smaller than appropriate cuff size will elevate the patient’s systolic blood pressure by 10 to 40 mmHg (millimeters of mercury).