Question

a. Various factors can affect blood pressure. Some of these are listed below. Discuss the differences with each of these factors.

i) age example: BP is lower in children than in adults.

ii) gender:

iii) race:

iv) diurnal rhythm:

v) weight

vi) exercise

vii) emotion

viii) stress

b. Identify situations when a blood pressure would not be measured on a client’s arm or leg.

c. State the rationale for the following nursing actions:

1. place client’s arm at heart level, palm up
2. palpate the brachial artery. Position cuff 2.5 cm above the brachial pulse. Center cuff above artery
3. after inflating the cuff to find point at which brachial pulse disappears, wait 30 seconds before re-inflating the cuff
4. inflate cuff to 30 mm Hg above palpated systolic pressure

d. Discuss some common errors in blood pressure readings; for each factor, identify the effect on blood pressure reading and the rationale.

e. What is auscultatory gap?

f. When might you, as a nurse, decide to take blood pressure on the client’s thigh? How do blood pressure readings taken on the thigh vary from those taken on the arm?

g. What is “white coat hypertension?”

h. Define the following terms: systolic pressure; diastolic pressure; pulse pressure; Korotkoff’s sounds; antecubital space; hypotension, hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, postural hypotension.

Answer 1

Answer:Blood pressure is influenced by various factors. Some of the factors are:

• Gender: Males have high blood pressure as compared to the womens.
• Race: Mostly the African American have high blood blood pressure as compared to the native Americans.
• Diurnal rhythm: In this case, the patient experiences hypertension in the morning and evening.
• Weight: Being overweight increases the risk of developing high blood pressure. Usually obese person have high blood pressure as compared to healthy people.
• Exercise: After the exercise the blood pressure is higher such as after running, lifting weights etc.