Final answer:
Before deflating the cuff during blood pressure measurement, the inflatable cuff must be placed correctly, air is injected to raise pressure, and a stethoscope is positioned to listen for Korotkoff sounds as air is released.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before deflating the cuff during a blood pressure measurement, a clinician must complete several important steps to ensure an accurate reading. Firstly, the inflatable cuff is placed on the patient's upper arm, tightly encircling it, and positioned approximately at the level of the heart. Using a rubber bulb, the clinician injects air into the cuff to increase pressure around the artery, which temporarily stops blood flow in the arm. A key step before deflating the cuff involves the clinician placing a stethoscope on the patient's antecubital region. This is critical because as air is gradually released from the cuff, the clinician listens for Korotkoff sounds, which are specific sounds related to the blood flow resuming through the compressed artery and are used to determine systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings.