Final answer:
Blood pressure measurements must be performed with the cuff fully deflated to ensure accurate readings. The clinician wraps the cuff at the heart level, increases pressure to stop blood flow, and then listens for Korotkoff sounds to determine blood pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
A blood pressure measurement should never be taken unless the cuff is fully deflated. During routine blood pressure checks, the clinician must follow a standard procedure for accurate readings. The process involves the clinician wrapping an inflatable cuff tightly around the patient's upper arm at about the level of the heart. After this, air is pumped into the cuff to raise pressure around the artery, temporarily obstructing blood flow. Following this, as the air is gradually released, the clinician listens for the Korotkoff sounds with a stethoscope placed on the patient's antecubital region, which indicates the systolic and diastolic pressures.