The nurse has collected the following information on a patient: ...

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The nurse has collected the following information on a patient: palpated blood pressure-180 mm Hg; auscultated blood pressure-170/100 mm Hg; apical pulse-60 beats per minute; radial pulse-70 beats per minute. What is the patient's pulse pressure?
 
  a. 10
  b. 70
  c. 80
  d. 100

Question 2

The nurse is taking an initial blood pressure reading on a 72-year-old patient with documented hypertension. How should the nurse proceed?
 
  a. Cuff should be placed on the patient's arm and inflated 30 mm Hg above the patient's pulse rate.
  b. Cuff should be inflated to 200 mm Hg in an attempt to obtain the most accurate systolic reading.
  c. Cuff should be inflated 30 mm Hg above the point at which the palpated pulse disappears.
  d. After confirming the patient's previous blood pressure readings, the cuff should be inflated 30 mm Hg above the highest systolic reading recorded.

[hramirez205]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure (170 - 100 = 70) and reflects the stroke volume.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
An auscultatory gap occurs in approximately 5 of the people, most often in those with hypertension. To check for the presence of an auscultatory gap, the cuff should be inflated 20 to 30 mm Hg beyond the point at which the palpated pulse disappears.