Obtaining Blood Pressure by the One-Step Method

What would the nurse do to prevent the spread of infection when assessing a patient's blood pressure?

Clean the stethoscope with alcohol before and after using it.

You have assigned a new nursing assistive personnel (NAP) to take routine vital signs. An experienced NAP has been asked to retake a blood pressure that the newly hired NAP has taken three times this week. As the nurse, what action do you take?

Observe the NAP as he or she obtains a blood pressure and pulse on a patient.

What should the nurse do if the patient's blood pressure is not within normal limits?

Promptly report the assessment data to the nurse in charge or to the health care provider.

You have assigned a new nursing assistive personnel (NAP) to take routine vital signs. You notice that the NAP's last three patients have had unusually low blood pressure that you have had to confirm. What is the most likely reason the NAP is obtaining falsely low blood pressure readings?

The blood pressure cuff is too wide for arm circumference.

The nurse is planning to measure a patient's blood pressure. What does the systolic measurement represent?

The pressure exerted against the arterial wall.