Measuring and Recording Blood Pressure

Multiple Choice

Diastolic pressure occurs when the heart is contracting and pushing blood into the arteries.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Blood pressure is recorded as a fraction with the diastolic pressure listed over the systolic pressure.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Hypertension is indicated when pressures are greater than 140 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

A patient should sit quietly for at least 5 minutes before blood pressure is taken.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

The American Heart Association recommends that two separate blood pressure readings be taken and averaged.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

A sphygmomanometer cuff that is too wide or too narrow will give inaccurate blood pressure readings.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

The sphygmomanometer cuff should be positioned directly over the antecubital area.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

The pulse site used while taking a blood pressure is ____.

• CAROTID

• RADIAL

• BRACHIAL

• FEMORAL

Multiple Choice

Constant pressure in the walls of the arteries is ____.

• SYSTOLIC

• APICAL

• HYPERTENSION

• DIASTOLIC

Multiple Choice

Prehypertension occurs when ____.

• the diastolic reading is between 80 to 100 mm Hg

• the diastolic reading is between 80 to 89 mm Hg

• the diastolic reading is below 80 mm Hg

• the diastolic reading is over 100 mm Hg

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements is NOT the correct way to measure blood pressure?

• The patient’s forearm should be supported on a flat surface.

• The lower edge of the sphygmomanometer cuff should be 1 to 1 1/2 inches below the antecubital area.

• The length of the bladder on the cuff should be approximately 80 percent of the circumference of the patient’s upper arm.

• The patient’s arm should be free of any constrictive clothing and the cuff should be applied to the bare skin.