What is the proper action when weighing a patient using a mechanical scale?

When weighing a patient using a mechanical scale, the proper action is to ensure that the scale is balanced and set to zero before taking the measurement. This step is crucial because an uncalibrated scale can yield inaccurate readings, which could lead to errors in patient care, medication dosages, or treatment plans. By ensuring the scale is at zero, you establish a reliable baseline that reflects the patient’s true weight, improving the precision of the data gathered.

Setting the scale to zero can typically be done by using a lever or knob at the front or side of the scale. This process also involves checking the balance of the scale, ensuring that both sides are even and calibrated correctly to provide an accurate reading.

Other options may involve steps of adjusting the weights, but they are secondary to the fundamental requirement of ensuring the scale is balanced and reset. Adjusting weights without resetting the scale could result in misleading weight estimations, which is why option addressing the need for proper calibration and balance takes precedence.