For a client with a previous blood pressure of 138/74 mmHg and pulse of 64 beats/min, approximately how long should the nurse take to release the blood pressure cuff in order to obtain an accurate reading?
- 10–20 seconds
- 30–45 seconds
- 1–1.5 minutes
- 3–3.5 minutes
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is 2. 30–45 seconds.
When measuring blood pressure, it is essential to allow the cuff to deflate at an appropriate rate to ensure an accurate reading and avoid discomfort to the patient. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, the cuff should be deflated slowly and steadily at a rate of about 2 to 3 mmHg per second. If the cuff is released too quickly, it may cause inaccurate readings due to the possibility of a falsely low systolic pressure and a falsely high diastolic pressure. If it is released too slowly, it can cause discomfort and may also result in inaccurate readings, particularly in cases where the pressure needs to be measured multiple times.
The recommended duration for deflation, from the point of maximum inflation to the end of measurement, typically ranges between 30 to 45 seconds. This allows the pressure to drop gradually and ensures that the sounds corresponding to the systolic and diastolic pressures can be heard clearly through the stethoscope. This period is especially important when re-measuring blood pressure to ensure that the blood pressure cuff is not left inflated for too long, which could cause discomfort and inaccurate readings.
A 10–20 seconds release (option 1) would be too rapid and would likely result in inaccurate readings due to insufficient time for the pressure to drop gradually. A 1–1.5 minutes (option 3) or 3–3.5 minutes (option 4) deflation would also be unnecessarily prolonged, leading to patient discomfort and potentially altering the accuracy of the reading. Therefore, the optimal time frame for releasing the cuff is 30–45 seconds.