Which of the following blood pressure readings should be reported to the nurse?

Which of the following blood pressure readings should be reported to the nurse?

• A. 109/68
• B. 102/74
• C. 119/72
• D. 131/80

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is knowing when a blood pressure reading is outside what’s normal for an adult and needs to be reported to the nurse. Normal resting blood pressure for adults is in a range that’s considered healthy; anything clearly higher than that should be communicated so the nurse can confirm the reading, review the patient’s condition, and decide if any action is needed. In this scenario, the reading that is elevated falls outside the normal range, so it should be reported to the nurse right away. The other readings stay within what’s typically expected for resting blood pressure and don’t require reporting on their own unless there are symptoms or a change from the patient’s baseline. To ensure accuracy, verify proper technique next time: the patient seated with back supported, feet uncrossed and flat, arm supported at heart level, using the correct cuff size, and resting before measuring. If a reading is found to be high, it’s common to recheck after a few minutes to confirm before final notes are made. Reporting early helps the care team monitor for trends and intervene if needed.

The key idea here is knowing when a blood pressure reading is outside what’s normal for an adult and needs to be reported to the nurse. Normal resting blood pressure for adults is in a range that’s considered healthy; anything clearly higher than that should be communicated so the nurse can confirm the reading, review the patient’s condition, and decide if any action is needed.

In this scenario, the reading that is elevated falls outside the normal range, so it should be reported to the nurse right away. The other readings stay within what’s typically expected for resting blood pressure and don’t require reporting on their own unless there are symptoms or a change from the patient’s baseline.

To ensure accuracy, verify proper technique next time: the patient seated with back supported, feet uncrossed and flat, arm supported at heart level, using the correct cuff size, and resting before measuring. If a reading is found to be high, it’s common to recheck after a few minutes to confirm before final notes are made. Reporting early helps the care team monitor for trends and intervene if needed.