Which of the following is the correct procedure for measuring an adult's blood pressure using a manual sphygmomanometer?

Rationale: A. Placing the stethoscope over the patient’s chest and listening for the first sound is incorrect because blood pressure is measured by auscultating the brachial artery in the antecubital fossa, not the chest. B. Inflating the cuff to 140 mmHg and releasing it quickly while palpating the radial pulse is incorrect because 140 mmHg may not exceed the patient’s systolic pressure, and rapid deflation can lead to an inaccurate reading. C. Inflating the cuff to 100 mmHg and slowly deflating while listening for Korotkoff sounds is incorrect because in many adults this pressure may not be sufficient to occlude the brachial artery, which can result in a falsely low measurement. D. Inflating the cuff to 30 mmHg above the patient’s estimated systolic pressure and slowly deflating while listening for Korotkoff sounds is correct. The cuff should be placed on the bare upper arm at heart level, and the stethoscope positioned over the brachial artery. The first Korotkoff sound heard indicates systolic pressure, and the disappearance of sound indicates diastolic pressure. Inflating above the estimated systolic pressure ensures the artery is fully occluded, allowing for an accurate reading.