Test Yourself: List in the Correct Order

List the steps below in the correct order for each of the following techniques. Write your list on a piece of paper.

Two-step blood pressure technique

• Now, you can start blood pressure so place the bell of the cleansed stethoscope over the brachial artery using a light touch and complete seal.
• Open the valve slightly.
• Deflate the cuff quickly.
• Palpate the radial or brachial artery, inflate the blood pressure cuff until the pulse is no longer felt, and then continue to inflate 20–30 mm Hg more:  this is the maximum pressure inflation.
• Inflate the cuff to the maximum pressure inflation number.
• Deflate the cuff slowly and evenly at about 2 mm Hg per second.
• Note the points at which you hear the first appearance of Korotkoff sound (systolic blood pressure) and the last Korotkoff sound before it goes silent (diastolic blood pressure).

One-step blood pressure technique

• Place the bell of the cleansed stethoscope over the brachial artery using a light touch, but with an airtight seal.
• Open the valve slightly.
• Palpate the radial or brachial artery, inflate the blood pressure cuff until the pulse is no longer felt, and then continue to inflate 20–30 mmHg more.
• Deflate the cuff slowly and evenly at about 2 mm Hg per second.
• Note the points at which you hear the first appearance of Korotkoff sound (systolic blood pressure) and the last Korotkoff sound before it goes silent (diastolic blood pressure).