Mrs.Davis is a 77-year-old woman weighing 45 kg,who is recovering from a hip fracture after a fall at home.She is being cared for by Maureen,a student nurse,who is preparing the client to have her blood pressure checked.Maureen wraps the blood pressure cuff around Mrs.Davis's right arm ensuring that the cuff is wrapped snugly from her elbow to axilla.Her blood pressure reading (checked twice)is 84/56,significantly lower than her usual pressure of 116/76.What should the instructor advise Maureen to do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The use of an inappropriately large cuff for a patient's arm can result in a falsely low blood pressure reading. Given Mrs. Davis's weight and the description of the cuff reaching from her elbow to axilla, it suggests that the cuff may be too large for her arm. Using a smaller cuff that is properly sized for her arm circumference would likely provide a more accurate measurement.

MrsDavis Is a 77-Year-Old Woman Weighing 45 Kg,who Is Recovering