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Before putting a blood pressure cuff on a patient's left arm, the PCT notices a shunt under the patient's skin. Which of the following actions should the PCT take first?

Put the blood pressure cuff on the left arm

Put the blood pressure cuff on the right arm

The most appropriate action in this scenario is to put the blood pressure cuff on the right arm. When a patient has a shunt, often created for hemodialysis or other medical procedures, there is a risk of harming the shunted arm by applying pressure to it during a blood pressure measurement. The presence of a shunt indicates that the arm in question may have compromised vascular integrity, and using that arm for blood pressure monitoring could lead to complications.

By choosing to place the cuff on the right arm, the Patient Care Technician (PCT) is ensuring that they are taking the blood pressure safely and effectively without risking damage to the shunt or causing discomfort to the patient. While informing the nurse and documenting the observation are also important, they should follow the immediate action of avoiding the shunted arm for the blood pressure measurement.

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Inform the nurse immediately

Document the observation

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