The Nurse Is Taking an Initial Blood Pressure Reading on a 72-Year-Old

Multiple Choice

The nurse is taking an initial blood pressure reading on a 72-year-old patient with documented hypertension. How should the nurse proceed?

A) Cuff should be placed on the patient's arm and inflated 30 mm Hg above the patient's pulse rate.
B) Cuff should be inflated to 200 mm Hg in an attempt to obtain the most accurate systolic reading.
C) Cuff should be inflated 30 mm Hg above the point at which the palpated pulse disappears.
D) After confirming the patient's previous blood pressure readings, the cuff should be inflated 30 mm Hg above the highest systolic reading recorded.