The nurse is obtaining a systolic blood pressure by palpation. While inflating the cuff, the radial pulse is no longer palpable at 90 mm Hg. Which action should the nurse take?

Document the absence of the radial pulse.

Release the manometer valve immediately.

Inflate blood pressure cuff to 120 mm Hg.

Record a palpable systolic pressure of 90 mm Hg.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A. Document the absence of the radial pulse:

While it's important to document findings accurately, it's also crucial to ensure that blood pressure measurements are obtained correctly. If the radial pulse becomes unpalpable before reaching the expected systolic pressure, further action is needed to obtain an accurate measurement.

B. Release the manometer valve immediately:

Releasing the manometer valve immediately would lead to deflating the cuff and potentially missing the opportunity to obtain an accurate blood pressure measurement. This action is not appropriate at this stage.

C. Inflate blood pressure cuff to 120 mm Hg:

When the radial pulse becomes unpalpable during cuff inflation, it indicates that the cuff pressure is above the systolic pressure. To accurately determine the systolic pressure, the cuff should be inflated to a higher pressure (usually 20-30 mm Hg above the point where the radial pulse disappears) and then slowly deflated while palpating for the return of the radial pulse.

D. Record a palpable systolic pressure of 90 mm Hg:

If the radial pulse is no longer palpable at 90 mm Hg, this suggests that the true systolic pressure is higher than 90 mm Hg. Recording a palpable systolic pressure of 90 mm Hg without further action would likely underestimate the true systolic pressure.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Administer PRN oral pain medication:

Administering pain medication without further assessment may not be appropriate, as the client's pain needs must be fully evaluated before intervening with medication. Additionally, pain medication should be administered based on an accurate assessment rather than solely on nonverbal cues.

B. Review the pain medications prescribed:

While it's important to review the client's pain medications, particularly if the client is exhibiting signs of uncontrolled pain, this intervention should be secondary to further assessment of the client's current pain status.

C. Ask the client what is causing the grimacing:

Asking the client directly about the cause of their grimacing can help clarify their discomfort and provide insight into whether their pain response is being underreported. This approach helps bridge the gap between nonverbal cues and verbal reports.

D. Monitor the client's nonverbal behavior:

While monitoring nonverbal behavior is important, it does not directly address the discrepancy between the client’s grimacing and their verbal denial of pain. This action should be complemented by further assessment to understand the cause of the nonverbal signs.

E. Establish a regular time for going to bed and getting up: This intervention is not relevant to the current situation, as the client is experiencing discomfort while moving.

A. Obtaining clarification from a client's healthcare power-of-attorney. B. Completing discharge teaching to a client and family members. C. Reporting a change in a client's condition to the healthcare provider. D. Offering therapeutic support and comfort to a grieving family.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Obtaining clarification from a client's healthcare power-of-attorney:

While clear communication is important in this scenario, SBAR may not be necessary as the nurse is seeking information rather than providing a detailed report or recommendation.

B. Completing discharge teaching to a client and family members:

SBAR may not be the most suitable format for discharge teaching, as it is primarily used for communication between healthcare providers regarding a patient's condition and care plan. Discharge teaching typically involves providing comprehensive instructions and information in a manner tailored to the needs of the client and family members.

C. Reporting a change in a client's condition to the healthcare provider:

This is the most appropriate scenario for using the SBAR format. When communicating a change in a client's condition to the healthcare provider, the SBAR framework allows the nurse to provide a concise summary of the situation, relevant background information, assessment findings, and recommendations for further action.

D. Offering therapeutic support and comfort to a grieving family:

SBAR communication is not suitable for offering therapeutic support and comfort to a grieving family. This interaction requires empathy, active listening, and emotional support rather than a structured communication format like SBAR.

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The nurse is obtaining a systolic blood pressure by palpation. While inflating the cuff, the radial pulse is no longer palpable at 90 mm Hg. Which action should the nurse take?

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