Final answer:
To obtain an estimate of a client's systolic blood pressure, a PN should first prepare and position the client properly. This involves wrapping an inflatable cuff tightly around the patient's arm at about the level of the heart, locating the brachial artery, and using a rubber pump to inflate the cuff.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first action a PN (Practical Nurse) should take to obtain an estimate of a client's systolic blood pressure is to properly prepare and position the client. The clinician should wrap an inflatable cuff tightly around the patient's arm at about the level of the heart.
Next, the clinician should locate the brachial artery and place the stethoscope on the patient's antecubital region.
Finally, the clinician should use a rubber pump to inflate air into the cuff, raising pressure around the artery and temporarily cutting off blood flow into the patient's arm. While gradually allowing air within the cuff to escape, the clinician should listen for the Korotkoff sounds, which indicate the systolic pressure.