Patient CareQuestion 6 of 100
While auscultating a blood pressure, the medical assistant hears the first clear tapping sound at 132 mmHg and the last sound at 78 mmHg. How should this be documented?
a.78/132 mmHg
b.132 mmHg only, because the last sound is unreliable
c.132/78 mmHg
d.105 mmHg, the average of the two numbers
Explanation
The first Korotkoff sound marks the systolic pressure and the disappearance of sound marks the diastolic pressure, so the reading is charted as systolic over diastolic, 132/78 mmHg. Reversing the numbers changes the meaning entirely. Both values are required, and blood pressure is never averaged into a single number for charting.
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