If a nursing assistant notes a patient's blood pressure is 148/96, what is the best course of action?

The best course of action when a nursing assistant records a blood pressure of 148/96 is to report the reading to the nurse. This value indicates hypertension, which may require further assessment or intervention from a licensed healthcare provider. The nurses are trained to interpret these readings in the context of the patient's overall health and can determine the need for any necessary follow-up, medication adjustments, or additional monitoring.

While informing the patient about their reading might be supportive, the nursing assistant does not have the authority to diagnose or make decisions regarding treatment based on the blood pressure reading. Hence, relaying this information to the nurse ensures that the patient receives the appropriate care based on a professional evaluation.

Waiting 15 minutes and repeating the procedure, or taking the reading in the other arm, could also provide additional data but does not take priority over notifying a nurse, especially if the reading is significantly elevated. The prompt reporting helps in addressing the patient's potential health issues without delay.