Which action will the nurse in the hypertension clinic take in order to obtain an accurate baseline blood pressure (BP) for a new patient?
Have the patient sit in a chair with the feet flat on the floor.
The nurse obtains the following information from a patient newly diagnosed with prehypertension. Which finding is most important to address with the patient?
No regular aerobic exercise
Which action should the nurse take when administering the initial dose of oral labetalol (Normodyne) to a patient with hypertension?
Ask the patient to request assistance when getting out of bed.
After the nurse teaches the patient with stage 1 hypertension about diet modifications that should be implemented, which diet choice indicates that the teaching has been effective?
The patient has a glass of low-fat milk with each meal.
A patient has just been diagnosed with hypertension and has been started on captopril (Capoten). Which information is important to include when teaching the patient about this medication?
Change position slowly to help prevent dizziness and falls
Propranolol (Inderal) is prescribed for a patient diagnosed with hypertension. The nurse should consult with the health care provider before giving this medication when the patient reveals a history of
asthma
A 56-year-old patient who has no previous history of hypertension or other health problems suddenly develops a blood pressure (BP) of 198/110 mm Hg. After reconfirming the BP, it is appropriate for the nurse to tell the patient that
diagnosis of a possible cause, treatment, and ongoing monitoring will be needed
Which action will be included in the plan of care when the nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving nicardipine (Cardene) to treat a hypertensive emergency?
Use an automated noninvasive blood pressure machine to obtain frequent blood pressure (BP) measurements.
The nurse has just finished teaching a hypertensive patient about the newly prescribed ramipril (Altace). Which patient statement indicates that more teaching is needed?
A little swelling around my lips and face is okay.
During change-of-shift report, the nurse obtains the following information about a hypertensive patient who received the first dose of nadolol (Corgard) during the previous shift. Which information indicates that the patient needsimmediate intervention?
The patient has developed wheezes throughout the lung fields.
An older patient has been diagnosed with possible white coat hypertension. Which action will the nurse plan to take next?
Tell the patient how to self-monitor and record BPs at home.
Which blood pressure (BP) finding by the nurse indicates that no changes in therapy are needed for a patient with stage 1 hypertension who has a history of diabetes mellitus?
128/76 mm Hg
Which information should the nurse include when teaching a patient with newly diagnosed hypertension?
Hypertension is usually asymptomatic until target organ damage occurs.
The nurse on the intermediate care unit received change-of-shift report on four patients with hypertension. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
43-year-old with a (blood pressure (BP) of 160/92 who is complaining of chest pain
The nurse is reviewing the laboratory test results for a patient who has recently been diagnosed with hypertension. Which result is most important to communicate to the health care provider?
Serum creatinine of 2.8 mg/dL
A patient with a history of hypertension treated with a diuretic and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor arrives in the emergency department complaining of a severe headache and nausea and has a blood pressure (BP) of 238/118 mm Hg. Which question should the nurse ask first?
Have you been consistently taking your medications?
. The nurse is assessing a patient who has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with a hypertensive emergency. Which finding is most important to report to the health care provider?
The patient cannot move the left arm and leg when asked to do so.
A patient with hypertension who has just started taking atenolol (Tenormin) returns to the health clinic after 2 weeks for a follow-up visit. The blood pressure (BP) is unchanged from the previous visit. Which action should the nurse take first?
Question the patient about whether the medication is actually being taken.
The registered nurse (RN) is caring for a patient with a hypertensive crisis who is receiving sodium nitroprusside (Nipride). Which nursing action can the nurse delegate to an experienced licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?
Set up the automatic blood pressure machine to take BP every 15 minutes.
The charge nurse observes a new registered nurse (RN) doing discharge teaching for a patient with hypertension who has a new prescription for enalapril (Vasotec). The charge nurse will need to intervene if the new RN tells the patient to
increase the dietary intake of high-potassium foods.
Which assessment finding for a patient who is receiving IV furosemide (Lasix) to treat stage 2 hypertension ismost important to report to the health care provider?
Blood potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L
Which nursing action should the nurse take first in order to assist a patient with newly diagnosed stage 1 hypertension in making needed dietary changes?
Collect a detailed diet history.
The nurse is caring for a 70-year-old who uses hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL) and enalapril (Norvasc), but whose self-monitored blood pressure (BP) continues to be elevated. Which patient information may indicate a need for a change?
Patient uses ibuprofen (Motrin) daily to treat osteoarthritis