Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 62%
Simulated
When assessing the blood pressure of a school-aged child, using an adult cuff of normal size will affect the reading and produce a value that is
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The correct answer is A: Falsely low. Using an adult cuff on a school-aged child will result in a falsely low blood pressure reading. The cuff will be too large for the child's arm, leading to inaccurate pressure measurements. This occurs because the cuff cannot exert enough pressure to fully constrict the artery, resulting in a lower reading than the actual blood pressure. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as using an adult cuff does not make the reading indistinct, accurate, or falsely high. It is crucial to use an appropriately sized cuff to ensure accurate blood pressure assessments in children.