NBCSN Nationally Certified School Nurse Practice Exam 2025 - Free School Nurse Certification Practice Questions and Study Guide

When the bladder length of a blood pressure cuff is less than 80% of the arm circumference, it typically results in an inaccurately high reading. This occurs because a cuff that is too small does not compress the artery sufficiently, leading to a false elevation in the measured pressure. This can cause healthcare providers to misinterpret the patient's blood pressure, potentially leading to a misdiagnosis or inappropriate management of hypertension.

The significance of using the correct cuff size is rooted in the principles of hemodynamics and the physiology of blood flow measurement. It’s important for healthcare professionals to understand that selecting the proper size cuff is critical to obtaining accurate vital signs. An oversized cuff will lead to inaccurately low readings, while an undersized cuff will cause readings to be misleadingly high. Therefore, proper training in the correct application of the blood pressure cuff and understanding its implications on readings is essential for effective patient assessment and care.