Final answer:
The appropriate blood pressure cuff width is 40% (option 1) of the circumference of the extremity being measured. This percentage is crucial for getting an accurate measurement and avoiding artificial variances in the readings.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing the client's blood pressure, the nurse should use a cuff with a width that is 40% of the circumference of the extremity. Using the correct size of blood pressure cuff is essential for obtaining accurate blood pressure readings. A cuff that is too small may yield a reading that is falsely high, whereas a cuff that is too large may yield a reading that is falsely low.
In routine blood pressure measurements, an inflatable cuff is placed on the upper arm at the same level as the heart. Blood flow is detected just below the cuff, and corresponding pressures are transmitted to a mercury-filled manometer. The measurement includes two readings: the systolic pressure, which is the peak pressure in the arteries during the heartbeat, and the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.