Before weighing a resident, the scale should be balanced at which setting?

Before weighing a resident, the scale should be balanced at which setting?

• A. Zero
• B. Five pounds
• C. Negative two pounds
• D. The resident's last known weight

Answer: (A)

Zeroing the scale before weighing creates an accurate baseline. By balancing at zero, you remove any preexisting load, drift, or tare from the scale so that the reading reflects only the resident’s weight when you weigh them. Balancing at a fixed positive value would bias the result high, a negative value would bias it low or be nonsensical, and using the last known weight ignores any change since the last measurement. Always reset to zero (tare) before weighing to ensure an accurate, current measurement.

Zeroing the scale before weighing creates an accurate baseline. By balancing at zero, you remove any preexisting load, drift, or tare from the scale so that the reading reflects only the resident’s weight when you weigh them. Balancing at a fixed positive value would bias the result high, a negative value would bias it low or be nonsensical, and using the last known weight ignores any change since the last measurement. Always reset to zero (tare) before weighing to ensure an accurate, current measurement.