A nurse is obtaining a client’s manual blood pressure and is having difficulty auscultating sounds.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Apply the largest cuff available.
Use the palpatory method to determine blood pressure.
Place the arm above the level of the client’s heart.
Deflate the cuff quickly.
The Correct Answer is B
The systolic pressure is estimated by noting the pressure at which the pulse disappears and reappears. The diastolic pressure is not measured by this method, but it can be useful when the sounds are difficult to hear.
Choice A is wrong because applying the largest cuff available can result in a falsely low reading. The cuff size should be appropriate for the client’s arm circumference.
Choice C is wrong because placing the arm above the level of the client’s heart can also cause a falsely low reading. The arm should be at the level of the heart for an accurate measurement.
Choice D is wrong because deflating the cuff quickly can lead to missing or skipping sounds, resulting in an inaccurate reading. The cuff should be deflated slowly and evenly.
Normal ranges for blood pressure vary depending on age, sex, and health conditions, but generally, a systolic pressure below 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure below 80 mmHg are considered normal for adults.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A. A client who is ambulatory and receiving oxygen should be evacuated first during a fire because they are at risk of fire and explosion from the oxygen source. The nurse should instruct the staff to turn off the oxygen supply, remove the oxygen device from the client, and assist them to walk out of the building using the nearest exit.
Choice B is wrong because a client who uses a wheelchair and is confused is not in immediate danger from the fire. They can be evacuated using a swing carry or an extremity carry by two staff members after the clients who are more vulnerable are evacuated.
Choice C is wrong because a client who is bedridden and wears a hearing aid is not in immediate danger from the fire. They can be evacuated using a cradle drop by one staff member after the clients who are more vulnerable are evacuated.
Choice D is wrong because a client who has a fracture and is in balance suspension traction is not in immediate danger from the fire. They can be evacuated using a special device such as a sked or a sled by two or more staff members after the clients who are more vulnerable are evacuated.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason
The anterior fontanel is open is the correct answer. An expected finding in an 8-month-old infant is that the anterior fontanel (the soft spot on the top of the baby's head) is open. The fontanelles are spaces between the bones of an infant's skull that allow for the baby's brain to grow and the skull to mould during birth.
The anterior fontanel typically remains open until the baby is around 18 to 24 months old, with the closure process starting sometime after 9 months of age. Therefore, at 8 months of age, it is normal for the anterior fontanel to still be open.
Choice B reason:
Both fontanels are the same size is incorrect. Both fontanels are usually not the same size. The anterior fontanel is larger and diamond-shaped, while the posterior fontanel is smaller and triangular.
Choice C reason:
The posterior fontanel is open is incorrect. The posterior fontanel, located at the back of the baby's head, usually closes earlier than the anterior fontanel. It typically closes within the first few months after birth, so it is not expected to be open at 8 months of age.
Choice D reason
Both fontanels show molding is incorrect. Molding refers to the temporary shaping of the baby's head during birth due to the pressure exerted during the passage through the birth canal. By 8 months of age, the molding typically resolves, and the baby's head should have a more rounded appearance.
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