Common Errors in Blood Pressure Assessment
Inadequate inflation level
False-low systolic reading
Arm below heart level
False-high reading
Cuff too wide
False-low reading
Stethoscope that fits poorly or impairment of examiner's hearing, causing sounds to be muffled
False low systolic and false high diastolic
Deflating cuff too slowly
False-high diastolic reading
Inflating too slowly
False-high diastolic reading
Arm not supported
False-high reading
Cuff too narrow or too short
False-high reading
Cuff wrapped too loosely or unevenly
False-high reading
Repeating assessments too quickly
False-high systolic reading
Stethoscope applied too firmly against antecubital fossa
False-low diastolic reading
Arm above heart level
False-low reading
Deflating cuff too quickly
False-low systolic and false-high diastolic reading
