Which of the following can cause an inaccurate blood pressure reading?

Inaccurate blood pressure readings can significantly impact patient assessment and care, so understanding the factors that can cause such inaccuracies is essential. Using an improper cuff size or applying incorrect technique during measurement is a primary contributor to erroneous readings.

For example, using a cuff that is too small can inflate excessively and yield a higher reading, while a cuff that is too large may provide a falsely low reading. Additionally, techniques such as not allowing the patient to rest before measurement, placing the cuff incorrectly on the arm, or not aligning the cuff with the heart can all lead to discrepancies in the blood pressure reading.

Thus, this option specifically highlights how both cuff size and the method employed in taking the measurement play crucial roles in obtaining an accurate assessment of blood pressure.