What should the medical assistant do if she notes that a patient has an elevated BP?
A) Record the first reading for the physician to review.
B) Check the cuff size to make sure it matches the patient's arm.
C) Check the BP reading in both arms.
D) Wait 20 minutes and then recheck the reading.
E) Both B and C should be done.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the medical assistant notes that a patient has elevated blood pressure, the BP should be checked in both arms with the patient seated and after the patient has been standing for at least 2 minutes with a cuff the proper size for the patient's arm. If the pressure readings are different, the physician uses the higher value for diagnostic purposes. The patient's blood pressures should be checked again after at least 2 minutes.

What Should the Medical Assistant Do If She Notes That