The nurse is taking the blood pressure of a client.The nurse obtains the blood pressure in both of the client's arms.The nurse determines that there is a difference of 15 mm Hg in the systolic readings between the arms and repeats the assessment with the same results.The nurse suspects which of the following may have occurred in this situation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A difference in systolic blood pressure readings of 15 mm Hg or more between arms may indicate the presence of a unilateral arterial obstruction or disease. An inaccurate technique could potentially lead to inconsistent readings, but if the same difference is consistently observed in multiple measurements, it is unlikely to be due to technique alone. Anxiety and shock could also potentially affect blood pressure readings, but they would not necessarily cause a consistent difference between arms.

The Nurse Is Taking the Blood Pressure of a Client