A nurse is obtaining a blood pressure reading for a client who has major depressive disorder. Which of the following actions might result in a false low reading?

Introduction: Accurate sphygmomanometry requires precise anatomical positioning to ensure that hydrostatic pressure does not interfere with the measurement of arterial tension during the assessment of cardiovascular stability. A. Positioning the client's arm above heart level results in a false low reading because gravity reduces the hydrostatic pressure within the brachial artery. For every 1.3 cm the arm is raised above the right atrium, the blood pressure reading can decrease by approximately 1 mmHg, leading to inaccurate clinical data. B. Selecting a cuff that is too narrow or too short typically results in a false high reading. This occurs because a small cuff requires higher inflation pressures to occlude the artery, creating excessive bladder pressure that does not accurately reflect the actual tension within the vascular walls of the client. C. Failing to support the client's arm usually leads to a false high reading. When the client must use isometric muscular contraction to hold their arm up, the resulting muscle tension increases the systemic vascular resistance locally, which can artificially elevate both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements during the procedure. D. Inflating the cuff too slowly can cause venous congestion in the extremity, which often results in a false high diastolic reading. Slow inflation prevents rapid arterial occlusion and allows blood to pool in the forearm, creating an auscultatory gap or making the Korotkoff sounds difficult to distinguish accurately.