Vital Signs Assessment Related

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The nurse has collected the following information on a patient: palpated blood pressure–180 mm Hg; auscultated blood pressure–170/100 mm Hg; apical pulse–60 beats per minute; radial pulse–70 beats per minute. What is the patient's pulse pressure?

  • A. 10
  • B. 70
  • C. 80
  • D. 100
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The pulse pressure is calculated by subtracting the diastolic blood pressure from the systolic blood pressure. In this case, the systolic blood pressure is 170 mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure is 100 mm Hg. Therefore, 170 - 100 = 70 mm Hg, which is the patient's pulse pressure.

A: 10 - Incorrect. This value is too low for the pulse pressure given the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings.
C: 80 - Incorrect. This value is too high for the pulse pressure given the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings.
D: 100 - Incorrect. This value is equal to the diastolic blood pressure, not the pulse pressure.