A nurse is collecting data about a client's circulatory system. Which of the following pulse sites should the nurse avoid checking bilaterally at the same time?

Choice A reason: Wearing gloves when measuring a client's blood pressure is not typically necessary unless there is a risk of exposure to bodily fluids or if the client has an infectious disease. The use of gloves is based on the type of contact and potential for exposure, not routine tasks like BP measurement.

Choice B reason: Wearing gloves for all client contact is not necessary and is not consistent with standard precautions. Gloves should be used when there is potential contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, contaminated items, or mucous membranes.

Choice C reason: Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene. The primary reason for wearing gloves is to provide a barrier against infection, not to reduce handwashing. Hand hygiene is still required before donning gloves and after removing them, regardless of whether the gloves are soiled or not.

Choice D reason: Wearing gloves and a gown when bathing a client with open skin lesions is correct because it protects both the healthcare worker and the client from the risk of infection. Open skin lesions can be a source of infection, and PPE is necessary to prevent the transmission of pathogens.

The correct answer is: c. Positioning the client’s arm above heart level.

Choice A: Wrapping the cuff too loosely around the client’s arm

Wrapping the cuff too loosely can lead to an inaccurately high blood pressure reading, not a low one. A loose cuff does not compress the artery properly, causing the device to overestimate the pressure needed to occlude the artery.

Choice B: Measuring blood pressure right after the client’s mealtime

Measuring blood pressure right after a meal can cause a slight increase in blood pressure due to the body’s metabolic response to digestion. This is not a common cause of a low blood pressure reading.

Choice C: Positioning the client’s arm above heart level

Positioning the client’s arm above heart level can lead to an inaccurately low blood pressure reading. When the arm is elevated, the hydrostatic pressure decreases, resulting in a lower reading. This is a well-known source of error in blood pressure measurement.

Choice D: Deflating the cuff too slowly

Deflating the cuff too slowly can cause venous congestion, which may lead to an inaccurately high reading rather than a low one. The standard deflation rate is 2-3 mm Hg per second to ensure accurate measurement.