Ace the NBCSN School Nurse Exam 2025 – Supercharge Your Certification Journey!

When measuring blood pressure in children, the dominant arm is generally recommended for the first measurement. Using the dominant arm can provide a more accurate baseline as it is typically associated with higher blood pressure readings. This is because the dominant arm may experience greater muscle mass and activity, which can influence blood pressure levels.

Additionally, measuring blood pressure in the dominant arm aligns with clinical practice, which encourages consistency in measurements. Once a reading is established in the dominant arm, health professionals may compare it with measurements taken in the non-dominant arm if needed, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the child's blood pressure status.

Choosing either arm or both arms simultaneously may not yield the most precise initial reading. While assessing blood pressure in both arms can be beneficial for certain clinical scenarios, particularly to identify significant differences that may indicate vascular issues, it is not standard practice for the initial measurement in most pediatric settings.