Question

The nurse is assessing a patient's blood pressure. What does the nurse document as the difference between the systolic and the diastolic pressure?

Answer 1

The nurse records the difference between the patient's systolic and diastolic blood pressure as the pulse pressure, which is 40 mmHg given a reading of 120/80 mmHg.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse will document the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures as the pulse pressure. Pulse pressure is an important measure, expressing the force that the heart generates each time it contracts. For instance, if a patient has a systolic pressure of 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of 80 mm Hg, the nurse would calculate the pulse pressure by subtracting the diastolic pressure from the systolic pressure, resulting in a pulse pressure of 40 mmHg. This measurement helps in understanding the health of the patient's cardiovascular system, as it reflects the amount of stress placed on the blood vessels each time the heart beats.