and Answers (Latest Update 2026)
The nurse is planning to measure a patient's blood pressure. What
does the systolic measurement represent?
A. Minimal pressure on the arterial walls.
B. The pressure exerted against the arterial wall.
C. The change in pressure from a lying to a sitting position.
D. The last sound heard when measuring the blood pressure. -
correct answer ✅B. The Pressure exerted against the arterial wall
Rationale: The systolic blood pressure measurement represents the
pressure of blood exerted against the arterial wall. The diastolic
blood pressure measurement represents the minimal pressure
exerted against the arterial walls at all times. A change in pressure
from a lying to a sitting position is an orthostatic blood pressure
change. The sounds heard during blood pressure measurement are
the Korotkoff sounds. The first sound identifies the systolic blood
pressure.
You have assigned a new nursing assistive personnel (NAP) to take
routine vital signs. You notice that the NAP's last three patients
have had unusually low blood pressure that you have had to
confirm. What is the most likely reason the NAP is obtaining falsely
low blood pressure readings?
A. The blood pressure cuff is too wide for arm circumference.
,Evolve Clinical Skills Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest Update 2026)
B. The bladder was deflated too slowly.
C. The patient's arm was not supported while the measurement
was taken.
D. The blood pressure cuff was not wrapped evenly around the
arm. -
correct answer ✅A. The blood pressure cuff is too wide for arm
circumference.
Rationale: A wide blood pressure cuff can result in a false low blood
pressure reading. The bladder deflated too slowly can result in a
false high diastolic blood pressure reading. A patient's arm not
being supported can result in a false high blood pressure reading. A
blood pressure cuff not wrapped evenly around the arm can result
in a false high blood pressure reading.
What should the nurse do if the patient's blood pressure is not
within normal limits?
A. Review the blood pressure readings in the patient's record.
B. Assess for proper cuff size and arm positioning.
C. Promptly report the assessment data to the nurse in charge or to
the health care provider.
,Evolve Clinical Skills Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest Update 2026)
D. Encourage the patient to rest quietly in bed for 30 minutes, and
then retake the blood pressure. -
correct answer ✅C. Promptly report the assessment data to the
nurse in charge or to the health care provider.
Rationale: Promptly reporting the assessment data to the nurse in
charge is the correct response, because the patient must be
assessed for possible cardiovascular problems. Reviewing the blood
pressure readings in the patient's record is not the correct
response, because a blood pressure reading outside of normal
limits must be reported without delay to the nurse in charge or to
the health care provider. The nurse would have assessed for proper
cuff size and positioned the arm correctly before measuring the
blood pressure. Encouraging the patient to rest quietly in bed for 30
minutes, and then retake the blood pressure is not the correct
response. A blood pressure reading outside of normal limits must
be reported without delay to the nurse in charge or to the health
care provider.
What would the nurse do to prevent the spread of infection when
assessing a patient's blood pressure?
A. Wear gloves.
, Evolve Clinical Skills Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest Update 2026)
B. Avoid using an arm in which an intravenous catheter has been
inserted.
C. Clean the stethoscope with alcohol before and after using it.
D. Inflate the cuff 30 mm higher than the expected systolic
pressure. -
correct answer ✅C. Clean the stethoscope with alcohol before and
after using it.
Rationale: Routinely cleaning the earpieces and diaphragm of the
stethoscope with alcohol after each use will help prevent the
spread of infection. Gloves are not normally required when
measuring a patient's blood pressure. Avoiding the use of an arm in
which an intravenous catheter has been inserted will not prevent
the spread of infection. Inflating the cuff 30 mm higher than the
expected systolic pressure will not prevent the spread of infection.
You have assigned a new nursing assistive personnel (NAP) to take
routine vital signs. An experienced NAP has been asked to retake a
blood pressure that the newly hired NAP has taken three times this
week. As the nurse, what action do you take?
A. Do not delegate vital signs to the NAP.
B. Delegate only temperature and respiratory rate to the NAP.
C. Report the NAP to your supervisor.