Question

a nurse is obtaining the blood pressure in a clients lower extremity. which of the following actions should the nurse take? auscultate for the blood pressure at the dorsalis pedis artery. measure the blood pressure with the client sitting on the side of the bed. place the cuff 7.6 cm (3 in) above the popliteal artery. place the bladder of the cuff over the posterior aspect of the thigh.

Explanation:

When obtaining blood - pressure in the lower extremity, the bladder of the cuff should be placed over the posterior aspect of the thigh. The dorsalis pedis artery is used for pulse assessment, not for blood - pressure auscultation. Measuring with the client sitting on the side of the bed is not the correct position for lower - extremity blood - pressure measurement. Placing the cuff 7.6 cm (3 in) above the popliteal artery is incorrect as the cuff placement for lower - extremity blood - pressure involves the thigh area.

Answer:

Place the bladder of the cuff over the posterior aspect of the thigh.