The recorded BP would be?

AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

Nursing Foundation

Medium

Appeared in: AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

Explanation

Using a blood pressure cuff that is too narrow for the arm's circumference leads to a falsely elevated reading.
This error occurs because a narrow cuff fails to transmit pressure evenly and requires a higher inflation pressure to fully compress the brachial artery.
The need for this extra pressure results in a measurement that is significantly higher than the patient's true blood pressure.
This principle is a common source of measurement error in clinical practice.

Option A: This specific pattern is not the characteristic error for a narrow cuff. The error typically results in both systolic and diastolic pressures being falsely elevated, not a split where one is higher and the other is lower.
Option C: An incorrectly sized cuff, whether too narrow or too wide, will almost always produce an inaccurate reading. The reading would only be the same as the actual BP if the cuff were properly sized for the patient's arm.
Option D: A falsely low reading is the result of using a cuff that is too wide for the arm, not too narrow.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Accuracy of blood pressure measurement and effect of cuff size as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Accurate blood pressure measurement is fundamental for diagnosing and managing hypertension. Using the correct cuff size is a critical nursing responsibility to prevent misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
A falsely high reading from a narrow cuff could lead to the unnecessary prescription of antihypertensive medications, potentially causing iatrogenic hypotension and its related symptoms like dizziness and falls.
Conversely, a falsely low reading from a wide cuff can mask true hypertension, delaying necessary treatment and increasing the risk of cardiovascular events.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the image and question to identify the core concept: the procedure of measuring blood pressure.
Next, recognize the implied variable in the question is the equipment, specifically an incorrectly sized blood pressure cuff (too narrow).
Recall the principles of BP measurement accuracy. Remember the relationship between cuff size and the pressure required to occlude the artery.
Apply the rule: A narrow cuff concentrates pressure poorly, requiring more applied pressure to stop blood flow, which translates to a falsely high reading.
Conversely, a wide cuff disperses pressure too easily, requiring less pressure, which leads to a falsely low reading.
Evaluate the options and select the one that matches the principle for a narrow cuff.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QfRWaIS2IKH-SNN3dim0LD

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 131-133

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 p. 28-30