A false high blood pressure reading may be assessed, as the nurse expl

A false high blood pressure reading may be assessed, as the nurse explains to the nurse assistant, if the assistant:

1. Wraps the cuff too loosely around the arm
2. Deflates the blood pressure cuff too quickly
3. Repeats the blood pressure assessment too soon
4. Presses the stethoscope too firmly in the antecubital fossa

ANSWER

ANS: 1
If the cuff is wrapped too loosely or unevenly around the arm, the effect on the blood pressure measurement may be a false high reading. A false low systolic and false high diastolic blood pressure reading may occur if the cuff is deflated too quickly. A false high systolic reading may be obtained if the blood pressure assessment is repeated too soon. A false low diastolic reading may be obtained if the stethoscope is applied too firmly against the antecubital fossa.