When assessing the blood pressure of a school-aged child, using an adult cuff of normal size will affect the reading and produce a value that is

A. Inform the patient's health care provider immediately to obtain an order for antihypertensive medications. While notifying the provider may be necessary, the nurse must first confirm the accuracy of the blood pressure reading before taking further action.
B. Instruct the nursing assistant to take the patient's blood pressure again and inform the nurse of the results immediately. Nursing assistants can take blood pressure readings, but the nurse should personally verify a critically high reading using a manual method.
C. Take the patient's blood pressure manually with a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. Electronic monitors can sometimes give false readings, especially in patients with irregular heartbeats or movement. Manually verifying ensures an accurate assessment before determining further action.
D. Perform a neurological assessment to determine if the patient is stressed, in pain, or having a stroke. A neurological assessment is important if the elevated BP is confirmed, but the first priority is verifying the reading manually.

A. Instruct the client to report for weekly re-evaluations by the nurse. A pulse deficit indicates a difference between the apical and radial pulse rates, which may suggest cardiac dysfunction such as atrial fibrillation. This requires immediate evaluation, not just weekly monitoring.
B. Teach the client how to check pulses at home. While patient education is important, a pulse deficit is a clinical concern that should be addressed by a healthcare provider before self-monitoring is advised.
C. Report this finding to the physician. A pulse deficit may indicate arrhythmias or decreased cardiac output, requiring further evaluation and possible medical intervention. The physician should be informed promptly.
D. Document this finding. While documentation is necessary, the priority action is to report the pulse deficit to the physician so appropriate diagnostic tests and interventions can be initiated.