What is the first step in obtaining a blood pressure measurement?

The first step in obtaining a blood pressure measurement involves selecting the correct cuff size for the patient. This is crucial because using an improperly sized cuff can lead to inaccurate readings. An adult cuff is typically used for adult patients, ensuring that the bladder within the cuff adequately wraps around the arm and provides a proper seal for the measurement process.

Choosing the appropriate cuff size directly affects the subsequent steps in the measurement process, such as inflating the bladder and listening for the Korotkoff sounds, which indicate systolic and diastolic pressure. If the wrong cuff size is selected, either the readings may be too high or too low, leading to misdiagnosis or mismanagement of possible health conditions. Therefore, beginning with the correct cuff selection lays the foundation for an accurate and reliable blood pressure measurement.