Assessment and Management of Patients With Hypertension PrepU

A blood pressure (BP) of 140/90 mm Hg is considered to be normal. prehypertension. hypertension. a hypertensive emergency.

A BP of 140/90 mm Hg or higher is hypertension. A blood pressure less than 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal. A BP of 120 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg is prehypertension. Hypertensive emergency is a situation in which BP is severely elevated and there is evidence of actual or probable target organ damage.

A nurse is teaching a client with newly diagnosed hypertension who asks if there is any harm in stopping antihypertensive medication. What is the nurse's best response? "Rebound hypertension can occur." "Postural hypotension can occur." "Rebound hypotension can occur." "Postural hypertension can occur."

Clients need to be informed that rebound hypertension can occur if they stop antihypertensive medications suddenly. This can be extremely dangerous and have serious consequences. Hypotension would not be a problem with discontinuation of antihyperstensive medications.

A nurse providing education about hypertension to a community group is discussing the high risk for cardiovascular complications. What are risk factors for cardiovascular problems in clients with hypertension? Select all that apply. Gallbladder disease Smoking Diabetes mellitus Physical inactivity Frequent upper respiratory infections

Risk factors for cardiovascular problems in clients with hypertension include smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, impaired renal function, obesity, physical inactivity, age, and family history.

Papilledema is a fairly common symptom of elevated blood pressure. The best way to detect this condition is through: ophthalmic examination. using a sphygmomanometer. laboratory tests. an MRI.

Papilledema is an edema of the optic nerves, and thus needs an ophthalmic examination for detection.

According to the DASH diet, how many servings of vegetables should a person consume each day? 2 or fewer 2 or 3 4 or 5 7 or 8

Four or five servings of vegetables are recommended in the DASH diet. The diet recommends two or fewer servings of lean meat, fish, and poultry; two or three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods; and seven or eight servings of grains and grain products.

A nurse is teaching a client who is newly diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes mellitus. What will the nurse specify about this client's target blood pressure? 145/95 or lower 130/80 or lower 150/95 or lower 125/85 or lower

The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) specifies a lower goal pressure of 130/80 for people with diabetes mellitus.

A patient is being treated for hypertensive emergency. When treating this patient, the priority goal is to lower the mean blood pressure (BP) by up to which percentage in the first hour? 25% 35% 40% 45%

The therapeutic goals are reduction of the mean BP by up to 25% within the first hour of treatment, a further reduction to a goal pressure of about 160/100 mm Hg over a period of 2 to 6 hours, and then a more gradual reduction in pressure to the target goal over a period of days.

A client who is newly diagnosed with hypertension is going to be starting antihypertensive medicine. What is one of the main things the client and the client's spouse should watch for? dizziness persistent cough blurred vision tremor

A common adverse effect of all antihypertensive drugs is postural hypotension, which can lead to falls. The client and the client's spouse should be alerted to this possibility and provided with some tips for managing dizziness.

A client is brought to the emergency department with reports of a bad headache and an increase in blood pressure. The blood pressure reading obtained by the nurse is 260/180 mm Hg. What is the therapeutic goal for reduction of the mean blood pressure? Reduce the blood pressure by 20% to 25% within the first hour of treatment. Reduce the blood pressure to about 140/80 mm Hg. Rapidly reduce the blood pressure so the client will not suffer a stroke. Reduce the blood pressure by 50% within the first hour of treatment.

A hypertensive emergency is a situation in which blood pressures are extremely elevated and must be lowered immediately (not necessarily to less than 140/90 mm Hg) to halt or prevent damage to the target organs (Chobanian et al., 2003; Rodriguez et al., 2010). Hypertensive emergencies are acute, life-threatening blood pressure elevations that require prompt treatment in an intensive care setting because of the serious target organ damage that may occur. The therapeutic goals are reduction of the mean blood pressure by 20% to 25% within the first hour of treatment, a further reduction to a goal pressure of about 160/100 mm Hg over a period of up to 6 hours, and then a more gradual reduction in pressure over a period of days.

Which diagnostic method is recommended to determine whether left ventricular hypertrophy has occurred? Echocardiography Electrocardiography Blood chemistry Blood urea nitrogen

An echocardiogram is recommended method of determining whether hypertrophy has occurred. Electrocardiography and blood chemistry are part of the routine workup. Renal damage may be suggested by elevations in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations.

An older adult client has newly diagnosed stage 2 hypertension. The health care provider has prescribed Chlorothiazide and Benazepril. What will the nurse monitor this client for? Postural hypertension and resulting injury Rebound hypertension Sexual dysfunction Postural hypotension and resulting injury

Antihypertensive medication can cause hypotension, especially postural hypotension that may result in injury. Rebound hypertension occurs when antihypertensive medication is stopped abruptly. Sexual dysfunction may occur, especially with beta blockers, but other medications are available should this problem ensue. This is not immediately a priority concern. Antihypertensive medications do not usually cause postural hypertension.

An older adult client has newly diagnosed stage 2 hypertension. The health care provider has prescribed the client hydrochlorothiazide and enalapril. What will the nurse be sure to include in educating this client? Change positions (lying or sitting to standing) slowly. Check blood pressure every day for signs of rebound hypertension. Do not become dependent on canes, walkers, or handrails. Eat plenty of salty food to prevent hypotension.

Antihypertensive medications can cause hypotension, especially postural hypotension that may result in injury. The nurse teaches clients to change positions slowly when moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing position. Rebound hypertension occurs when antihypertensive medications are stopped abruptly. The nurse also counsels elderly clients to use supportive devices such as handrails and walkers to prevent falls that could result from dizziness. Eating salty foods could defeat the purpose of taking the antihypertensive medications.

Which statements are true when the nurse is measuring blood pressure (BP)? Select all that apply. Using a BP cuff that is too small will give a higher BP measurement. The client's arm should be positioned at the level of the heart. Using a BP cuff that is too large will give a higher BP measurement. The client's BP should be measured 1 hour before consuming alcohol. The client should sit quietly while BP is being measured.

Correct response: Using a BP cuff that is too small will give a higher BP measurement. The client's arm should be positioned at the level of the heart. The client should sit quietly while BP is being measured. Explanation: These statements are all true when measuring a BP. When using a BP cuff that is too large, the reading will be lower than the actual BP. The client should avoid smoking cigarettes or drinking caffeine for 30 minutes before BP is measured.

The nurse is performing an assessment on a patient to determine the effects of hypertension on the heart and blood vessels. What specific assessment data will assist in determining this complication? (Select all that apply.) Heart rate Respiratory rate Heart rhythm Character of apical and peripheral pulses Lung sounds

During the physical examination, the nurse must also pay specific attention to the rate, rhythm, and character of the apical and peripheral pulses to detect the effects of hypertension on the heart and blood vessels.

A patient arrives at the clinic for a follow-up visit for treatment of hypertension. The nurse obtains a blood pressure reading of 180/110 but finds no evidence of impending or progressive organ damage when performing the assessment on the patient. What situation does the nurse understand this patient is experiencing? Hypertensive emergency Primary hypertension Secondary hypertension Hypertensive urgency

Hypertensive urgency describes a situation in which blood pressure is very elevated but there is no evidence of impending or progressive target organ damage (Chobanian et al., 2003). Elevated blood pressures associated with severe headaches, nosebleeds, or anxiety are classified as urgencies. In these situations, oral agents can be administered with the goal of normalizing blood pressure within 24 to 48 hours (Rodriguez et al., 2010).

The nurse is caring for an older adult client who has come to the clinic for a yearly physical. When assessing the client, the nurse notes the blood pressure (BP) is 140/93. The nurse knows that in older clients what happens that may elevate the systolic BP? Loss of arterial elasticity Decrease in blood volume Increase in calcium intake Decrease in cardiac output

In older clients, systolic BP may be elevated because of loss of arterial elasticity (arteriosclerosis). Systolic BP would not become elevated by a decrease in blood volume, an increase in calcium intake, or a decrease in cardiac output.

A nurse is educating a client about monitoring blood pressure readings at home. What will the nurse be sure to emphasize? "Avoid smoking cigarettes for 8 hours prior to taking blood pressure." "Sit quietly for 5 minutes prior to taking blood pressure." "Sit with legs crossed when taking your blood pressure." "Be sure the forearm is well supported above heart level while taking blood pressure."

Instructions for the client regarding measuring the blood pressure at home include the following: (1) Avoid smoking cigarettes or drinking caffiene for 30 minutes before measuring blood pressure. (2) Sit quietly for 5 minutes before the measurement. (3) Have the forearm supported at heart level, with both feet on the ground during the measurement of the blood pressure.

It is important for the nurse to encourage the cltient diagnosed with hypertension to rise slowly from a sitting or lying position because gradual changes in position help reduce the blood pressure to resupply oxygen to the brain. help reduce the work required by the heart to resupply oxygen to the brain. provide time for the heart to increase the rate of contraction to resupply oxygen to the brain. provide time for the heart to reduce the rate of contraction to resupply oxygen to the brain.

It is important for the nurse to encourage the client to rise slowly from a sitting or lying position because gradual changes in position provide time for the heart to increase its rate of contraction to resupply oxygen to the brain, not blood pressure or heart rate.

A client with high blood pressure is receiving an antihypertensive drug. When developing a client teaching plan to minimize orthostatic hypotension, which instruction should the nurse include? "Avoid drinking alcohol and straining at stool, and eat a low-protein snack at night." "Wear elastic stockings, change positions quickly, and hold onto a stationary object when rising." "Flex your calf muscles, avoid alcohol, and change positions slowly." "Rest between demanding activities, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and drink 6 to 8 cups of fluid daily."

Measures that minimize orthostatic hypotension include flexing the calf muscles to boost blood return to the heart, avoiding alcohol and straining at stool, changing positions slowly, eating a high-protein snack at night, wearing elastic stockings, and holding onto a stationary object when rising. Although the client should rest between demanding activities and consume plenty of fluids and fiber (contained in fruits and vegetables) to maintain a balanced diet, these measures don't directly relieve orthostatic hypotension.

When measuring the blood pressure in each arm of a healthy adult client, the nurse recognizes that which statement is true? Pressures must be equal in both arms. Pressures may vary 10 mm Hg or more between arms. Pressures should not differ more than 5 mm Hg between arms. Pressures may vary, with the higher pressure found in the left arm.

Normally, in the absence of any disease of the vasculature, arm pressures differ by no more than 5 mm Hg. The pressures in each arm do not have to be equal to be considered normal. Pressures that vary more than 10 mm Hg between arms are an abnormal finding. The left arm pressure is not anticipated to be higher than the right as a normal anatomic variant.

The nurse is seeing a client for the first time and has just checked the client's blood pressure. The nurse would consider the client prehypertensive if: diastolic BP is between 70 and 79 mm Hg. diastolic BP is 100 mm Hg. systolic BP is between 120 and 139 mm Hg. systolic BP is above 180 mm Hg.

Once the systolic BP goes above 120 mm Hg, the patient is considered prehypertensive, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (2015) definition.

A patient with hypertension is waking up several times a night to urinate. The nurse knows that what laboratory studies may indicate pathologic changes in the kidneys due to the hypertension? (Select all that apply.) Creatinine Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) Complete blood count (CBC) Urine for culture and sensitivity AST and ALT

Pathologic changes in the kidneys (indicated by increased blood urea nitrogen [BUN] and serum creatinine levels) may manifest as nocturia (getting up during the night to urinate).

A client is taking 50 mg of oral spironolactone twice a day to assist with blood pressure control. While the nurse is performing the morning assessment, the client reports nausea, general muscle cramps, and weakness. The ECG strip shows a peaked, narrow T-wave, which is a change. What electrolyte imbalance does the nurse suspect? Hyperkalemia Hypokalemia Hypernatremia Hyponatremia

Potassium-sparing diuretics, such as spironolactone, can cause hyperkalemia, especially if given with an ACE inhibitor. Signs of hyperkalemia are nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and peaked narrow T-waves.

Nurses should implement measures to relieve emotional stress for clients with hypertension because the reduction of stress.. increases the production of neurotransmitters that constrict peripheral arterioles. increases the resistance that the heart must overcome to eject blood. increases blood volume and improves the potential for greater cardiac output. decreases the production of neurotransmitters that constrict peripheral arterioles.

Reduced stress decreases the production of neurotransmitters that constrict peripheral arterioles. Reduced stress may assist in reducing blood volume and resistance to the heart.

A client, newly admitted to the nursing unit, has a primary diagnosis of renal failure. When assessing the client, the nurse notes a blood pressure (BP) of 180/100. The nurse knows that this is what kind of hypertension? Primary Essential Secondary Malignant

Secondary hypertension is elevated BP that results from or is secondary to some other disorder. This type of hypertension is not primary, essential, or malignant.

Which finding indicates that hypertension is progressing to target organ damage? Retinal blood vessel damage Urine output of 60 mL over 2 hours Blood urea nitrogen concentration of 12 mg/dL Chest x-ray showing pneumonia

Symptoms suggesting that hypertension is progressing to the extent that target organ damage is occurring must be detected early so that appropriate treatment can be initiated. All body systems must be assessed to detect any evidence of vascular damage. An eye examination with an ophthalmoscope is important because retinal blood vessel damage indicates similar damage elsewhere in the vascular system. The client is questioned about blurred vision, spots in front of the eyes, and diminished visual acuity. The heart, nervous system, and kidneys are also carefully assessed. A BUN concentration of 12 mg/dL and urine output of 60 mL over 2 hours are normal findings. The presence of pneumonia does not indicate target organ damage.

The nurse is caring for a client with hypertension. The nurse is correct to realize that a 24-hour urine is ordered to determine if the cause of hypertension is related to the dysfunction of which of the following? The thyroid gland The adrenal gland The pituitary gland The thymus

The 24-hour urine collection specimen is ordered to determine dysfunction of the adrenal gland. The 24-hour urine detects elevated catecholamines. The other options are not evaluated by a 24-hour urine.

The nurse is caring for an elderly client with a diagnosis of hypertension, who is taking several antihypertensive medications. Which safety precaution is the nurse most likely to reinforce? Changing positions slowly related to possible hypotension Eating extra potassium due to loss of potassium related to medications Being sure to keep follow-up appointments Walking as far as the client is able every day

The elderly have impaired cardiovascular reflexes and thus are more sensitive to the extracellular volume depletion caused by diuretics and to the sympathetic inhibition caused by adrenergic antagonists. The nurse teaches clients to change positions slowly when moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing position. This will help prevent falls. Eating extra potassium is not a good idea if taking a potassium-sparing diuretic. The other choices are good teaching points, but not necessarily safety precautions.

The nurse is caring for a client with a blood pressure of 210/100 mm Hg in the emergency room. What is the most appropriate route of administration for antihypertensive agents? continuous IV infusion sublingual intramuscular oral

The medications of choice in hypertensive emergencies are best managed through the continuous IV infusion of a short-acting titratable antihypertensive agent. The nurse avoids the sublingual and IM routes as their absorption and dynamics are unpredictable. The oral route would not have as quick an onset as a continuous IV infusion.

A 66-year-old client presents to the emergency department reporting severe headache and mild nausea for the past 6 hours. Upon assessment, the client's BP is 210/120 mm Hg. The client has a history of hypertension and takes 1.0 mg clonidine twice daily. Which question is most important for the nurse to ask the client next? "Have you taken your prescribed clonidine today?" "Do you have a dry mouth or nasal congestion?" "Are you having chest pain or shortness of breath?" "Did you take any medication for your headache?"

The nurse must ask whether the client has taken his prescribed clonidine. Clients need to be informed that rebound hypertension can occur if antihypertensive medications are suddenly stopped. Specifically, a side effect of clonidine is rebound or withdrawal hypertension. Although the other questions may be asked, it is most important to inquire whether the client has taken the prescribed hypertension medication given the client's severely elevated BP.

A client hospitalized for treatment of hypertension is being prepared for discharge. Which teaching topic should the nurse should be sure to cover? Maintaining a low-potassium diet Skipping a medication dose if dizziness occurs Maintaining a low-sodium diet Receiving I.V. antihypertensive medications

The nurse must teach the hypertensive client how to modify his diet to restrict sodium and saturated fats. In addition to teaching about adverse effects of ordered antihypertensives, she must discuss the actions and dosages of these drugs. A client receiving antihypertensives may also take a diuretic as part of the drug regimen and thus may require dietary potassium supplements and high-potassium foods to avoid electrolyte disturbances. Instead of skipping medication if dizziness occurs, the client should notify the physician of this symptom. The client receiving antihypertensives at home takes them by mouth, not I.V.

The physician is ordering a test for the hypertensive client that will be able to evaluate whether the client has experienced heart damage. Which diagnostic test would the nurse anticipate to determine heart damage? Blood chemistry Multiple gated acquisition scan (MUGA) Chest radiograph Fluorescein angiography

The nurse realizes that undiagnosed (untreated), long-standing hypertension can cause heart damage. The diagnostic test that best determines heart damage is the multiple gate acquisition scan (MUGA). This test is used to detect how efficiently the heart pumps. A blood chemistry determines electrolyte balance. A chest radiograph (chest x-ray) can provide details of the heart size through shading on the scan. Fluorescein angiography is an ophthalmologic test revealing leaking retinal blood vessels.

The nurse is instructing a client who is newly prescribed an antihypertensive medication. Which nursing instruction is emphasized to maintain client safety? Use a pillbox to store daily medication. Sit on the edge of the chair and rise slowly. Do not operate a motor vehicle. Take the medication at the same time daily.

The nursing instruction emphasized to maintain client safety is to sit on the edge of the chair before rising slowly. By doing so, the client reduces the possibility of falls related to postural hypotension. Using a pillbox to store medications and taking the medication at the same time daily is good medication management instruction. There is no reason when taking antihypertensive medications to restrict driving.

A client informs the nurse, "I can't adhere to the dietary sodium decrease that is required for the treatment of my hypertension." What can the nurse educate the client about regarding this statement? If dietary sodium isn't restricted, the client will be unable to control the blood pressure and will be at risk for stroke. The client can speak to the health care provider about increasing the dosage of medication instead of reducing the added salt. It takes 2 to 3 months for the taste buds to adapt to changes in salt intake. The client should use other methods of flavoring foods.

The program usually consists of restricting sodium and fat intake, increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, and implementing regular physical activity. Explaining that it takes 2 to 3 months for the taste buds to adapt to changes in salt intake may help the client adjust to reduced salt intake.

Which client statement indicates a good understanding of the nutritional modifications needed to manage hypertension? "A glass of red wine each day will lower my blood pressure." "I should eliminate caffeine from my diet to lower my blood pressure." "If I include less fat in my diet, I'll lower my blood pressure." "Limiting my salt intake to 2 grams per day will improve my blood pressure."

To lower blood pressure, a client should limit daily salt intake to 2 g or less. Alcohol intake is associated with a higher incidence of hypertension, poor compliance with treatment, and refractory hypertension. Chronic, moderate caffeine intake and fat intake don't affect blood pressure