Chapter 27: Assessment and Management of Patients with Hypertension - ML3

The nurse is teaching a client about chronic untreated hypertension. What complication will the nurse explain to the client?

stroke

A nurse is caring for a client who has hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The client's blood pressure this morning was 150/92 mm Hg. When the client asks the nurse what his or her blood pressure should be, what is the nurse's most appropriate response?

"Clients with diabetes should have a lower blood pressure goal. You should strive for 120/80 mm Hg."

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?

"Flex your calf muscles, avoid alcohol, and change positions slowly."

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?"

A client is placed on a low-sodium (500 mg/day) diet. Which client statement indicates that the nurse's nutrition teaching plan has been effective?

"I chose broiled chicken with a baked potato for dinner."

The nurse is caring for a client who has had 25 mg of oral hydrochlorothiazide added to the medication regimen for the treatment of hypertension. Which instruction should the nurse give the client?

"Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat."

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."

A nurse is educating a client about monitoring blood pressure readings at home. What will the nurse be sure to emphasize?

"Sit quietly for 5 minutes prior to taking blood pressure."

According to the DASH diet, how many servings of vegetables should a person consume each day?

4 or 5

A nurse is discussing with a nursing student how to accurately measure blood pressure. What statement by the student indicates an understanding of the education?

A cuff that is too small will give a false high blood pressure.

The nurse is assessing the blood pressure for a patient who has hypertension and the nurse does not hear an auscultatory gap. What outcome may be documented in this circumstance?

A high diastolic or low systolic reading

The nurse is evaluating the types of medications prescribed for a client's hypertension. Which of the following medication classifications establishes an action on vasoconstrictive hormones in the blood stream?

ACE inhibitor

A client with newly diagnosed hypertension asks what to do to decrease the risk for related cardiovascular problems. Which risk factor is not modifiable by the client?

Age

The nurse is administering metoprolol to a client. What type of medication should the nurse educate the client about?

Beta blocker

A client has severe coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension. Which medication order should the nurse consult with the health care provider about that is contraindicated for a client with severe CAD?

Clonidine

A nurse is providing education about hypertension to a community group. What are possible consequences of untreated hypertension? Select all that apply.

Coronary artery disease Myocardial infarction Stroke

A client has just been diagnosed with prehypertension. What would the nurse instruct this client to do to restore blood pressure below hypertensive levels?

Decrease sodium intake

A patient has been diagnosed with prehypertension and has been encouraged to exercise regularly and begin a weight loss program. What other healthcare professional may be helpful for the client to see?

Dietician

Choose the statements that correctly match the hypertensive medication with its side effect. Select all that apply.

Direct vasodilators may cause headache and tachycardia. With thiazide diuretics, monitor serum potassium concentration.

A nurse educator is providing information about hypertension to a small group of clients. A participant asks "What can I do to decrease my blood pressure and thus my risk for heart problems?" The nurse describes modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors. Which of the following risk factors can the client modify?

Dyslipidemia

A patient with long-standing hypertension is admitted to the hospital with hypertensive urgency. The physician orders a chest x-ray, which reveals an enlarged heart. What diagnostic test does the nurse anticipate preparing the patient for to determine left ventricular enlargement?

Echocardiography

Which diagnostic method is recommended to determine whether left ventricular hypertrophy has occurred?

Echocardiography

A client is being seen at the clinic for a routine physical when the nurse notes the client's blood pressure is 150/97. The client is considered to be a healthy, well-nourished young adult. What type of hypertension does this client have?

Essential (primary)

The nurse is teaching a client who is experiencing dizziness to rise slowly from a sitting or lying position. What is the rationale for the teaching?

Gradual changes in position provide time for the heart to increase rate of contraction to resupply oxygen to the brain.

The nurse is creating a community teaching demonstration focusing on the cause of blood pressure. When completing the visual aid, which body structures represent the mechanism of blood pressure?

Heart and blood vessels

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 Heart rhythm Character of apical and peripheral pulses

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

When administering benazepril with spironolactone, the nurse should be aware that which electrolyte imbalance may occur?

Hyperkalemia

Which describes a situation in which blood pressure is severely elevated and there is evidence of actual or probable target organ damage?

Hypertensive emergency

A client experiences orthostatic hypotension while receiving furosemide to treat hypertension. How will the nurse intervene?

Instruct the client to sit for several minutes before standing.

A client is being seen at the clinic on a monthly basis for assessment of blood pressure. The client has been checking blood pressure at home as well and has reported a systolic pressure of 158 and a diastolic pressure of 64. What does the nurse suspect this client is experiencing?

Isolated systolic hypertension

The nurse teaches the client which guidelines regarding lifestyle modifications for hypertension?

Maintain adequate dietary intake of fruits and vegetables

A client is admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with a diagnosis of hypertension emergency/crisis. The client's blood pressure (BP) is 200/130 mm Hg. The nurse is preparing to administer IV nitroprusside. Upon assessment, which finding requires immediate intervention by the nurse?

Numbness and weakness in the left arm

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 hypotension and resulting injury

A client is taking amiloride and lisinopril for the treatment of hypertension. What laboratory studies should the nurse monitor while the client is taking these two medications together?

Potassium level

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.

The nurse is caring for a client newly diagnosed with secondary hypertension. Which condition contributes to the development of secondary hypertension?

Renal disease

Which of the following is the nurse most correct to recognize as a direct effect of client hypertension?

Renal dysfunction resulting from atherosclerosis

Which finding indicates that hypertension is progressing to target organ damage?

Retinal blood vessel damage

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?

Secondary

Which term describes high blood pressure from an identified cause, such as renal disease?

Secondary hypertension

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.

Smoking Diabetes mellitus Physical inactivity

The nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed medication for the treatment of hypertension. The nurse recognizes that which medication conserves potassium?

Spironolactone

During the physical assessment of a client with hypertension, what would the nurse expect to be the most obvious finding?

Sustained increase of either one or both systolic or diastolic measurements.

The nurse is caring for a client with essential hypertension. The nurse reviews lab work and assesses kidney function. Which action of the kidney would the nurse evaluate as the body's attempt to regulate high blood pressure?

The kidney excretes sodium and water.

A client in a clinic setting has just been diagnosed with hypertension. When the client asks what the end goal is for treatment, what is the nurse's best response?

To prevent complications/death by achieving and maintaining a blood pressure of 140/90 or less

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. The client should sit quietly while BP is being measured.

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

Nurses should implement measures to relieve emotional stress for clients with hypertension because the reduction of stress

decreases the production of neurotransmitters that constrict peripheral arterioles.

When measuring blood pressure in each arm of a healthy adult, the nurse recognizes that the pressures

differ no more than 5 mm Hg between arms.

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

What risk factors would cause the nurse to become concerned that the client may have atherosclerotic heart disease? Select all that apply.

hypertension diabetes obesity family history of early cardiovascular events

It is appropriate for the nurse to recommend smoking cessation for clients with hypertension because nicotine

increases the heart rate, constricts arterioles, and reduces the heart's ability to eject blood.

A client with a history of hypertension is receiving client education about structures that regulate arterial pressure. Which structure is a component of that process?

kidneys

Papilledema is a fairly common symptom of elevated blood pressure. The best way to detect this condition is through:

ophthalmic examination.

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 the rate of contraction to resupply oxygen to the brain.

The nurse encourages the client diagnosed with hypertension to rise slowly from a sitting or lying position because gradual changes in position

provide time for the heart to increase the rate of contraction to resupply oxygen to the brain.

According to the classification of hypertension diagnosed in older adults, hypertension that can be attributed to an underlying cause is termed

secondary.