MED SURG PREP U 31
The nurse is teaching a client about chronic untreated hypertension. What complication will the nurse explain to the client?
stroke Explanation: A stroke occurs if vessels in the brain rupture and bleed. If an aneurysm has developed in the aorta from chronic hypertension, it may burst and cause hemorrhage and shock. Perpheral edema, right-sided heart failure, and pulmonary insufficiency are not usually consequences of untreated chronic hypertension.
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." Explanation: 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.
Which ethnic background would the nurse screen for hypertension at an early age?
African population Explanation: The population of African descent is at the highest risk for development of hypertension. The other ethnic backgrounds have a lower risk.
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) Explanation: Essential or primary hypertension, about 95% of cases, is sustained elevated BP with no known cause. This client does not have secondary, pathologic, or malignant hypertension.
A client, newly prescribed a low-sodium diet due to hypertension, is asking for help with meal choices. The client provides four meal choices, which are favorites. Which selection would be best?
Green pepper stuffed with diced tomatoes and chicken Explanation: Fresh vegetables are low in sodium with diced tomatoes (fresh) and chicken is a good low-sodium, high vegetable and protein selection. Cheese and soup (tomato and creamed) are high in sodium. Processed meats such as a hot dog and condiments such as ketchup are high in sodium.
The nurse is instructing a client who is newly prescribed an antihypertensive medication. Which nursing instruction is emphasized to maintain client safety?
Sit on the edge of the chair and rise slowly. Explanation: 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.
Papilledema is a fairly common symptom of elevated blood pressure. The best way to detect this condition is through:
ophthalmic examination. Explanation: Papilledema is an edema of the optic nerves, and thus needs an ophthalmic examination for detection.
The nurse is caring for a patient with systolic blood pressure of 135 mm Hg. This finding would be classified as
prehypertension. Explanation: A systolic blood pressure of 135 mm Hg is classified as prehypertension. A systolic BP less than 120 mm Hg is normal. A systolic BP of 140 to 159 mm Hg is stage I hypertension. A systolic BP greater than or equal to 160 is classified as stage II hypertension.
Which diuretic medication conserves potassium?
Spironolactone Explanation: Spironolactone is known as a potassium-sparing diuretic. Furosemide causes loss of potassium from the body. Chlorothiazide and chlorthalidone cause mild hypokalemia.
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. Explanation: 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.
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 Explanation: 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 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 Explanation: Amiloride (Midamor) is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning that it causes potassium retention. The nurse should monitor for hyperkalemia (elevated potassium level) if given with an ACE inhibitor, such as lisinopril (Zestril) or angiotensin receptor blocker.
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." Explanation: 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.
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?
130/80 or lower Explanation: 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.
According to the DASH diet, how many servings of vegetables should a person consume each day?
4 or 5 Explanation: 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
Which of the following client scenarios would be correct for the nurse to identify as a client with secondary hypertension?
A client diagnosed with kidney disease Explanation: Secondary hypertension is an elevated blood pressure that results from or is secondary to some other disorder such as kidney disease, a tumor of the adrenal medulla, or atherosclerosis. Depression alone is typically not associated with hypertension. Advanced age and alcohol intake are considered factors for essential hypertension.
The nurse is working on a busy cardiac unit caring for four hypertensive clients. Which client description would the nurse assess first because the client is at an increased risk for malignant hypertension?
A client with anorexia and history of no healthcare insurance Explanation: Accelerated and malignant hypertension can occur in individuals who fail to maintain follow-up or comply with medical therapy. Those individuals who have no healthcare insurance often are unable to obtain the medical follow-up or afford the cost of medications to treat the hypertensive state. If the hypertension is untreated, symptoms and complication can rapidly follow. The other choices need further assessment but are not the priority.
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. Explanation: Using a cuff that is too small will give a false high blood pressure measurement, while using a cuff that is too large results in a false low blood pressure measurement.
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 Explanation: Blood pressure is the force produced by the volume of the blood in arterial walls. It is represented by the formula: BP= CO (cardiac output)× PR (peripheral resistance). To highlight the mechanism of cardiac output, a heart would be on the visual aid 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 Explanation: 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 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 Explanation: 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.
When measuring the blood pressure in each arm of a healthy adult client, the nurse recognizes that which statement is true?
Pressures should not differ more than 5 mm Hg between arms. Explanation: 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.
Which term is refers to hypertension in which blood pressure that is controlled with therapy becomes uncontrolled (abnormally high) when the therapy is discontinued?
Rebound Explanation: Rebound hypertension may precipitate a hypertensive crisis. Essential or primary hypertension denotes high blood pressure from an unidentified source. Secondary hypertension denotes high blood pressure from an identified cause, such as renal disease.
Which term describes high blood pressure from an identified cause, such as renal disease?
Secondary hypertension Explanation: Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure from an identified cause, such as renal disease. Primary hypertension denotes high blood pressure form an unidentified source. Rebound hypertension is pressure that is controlled with therapy and becomes uncontrolled (abnormally high) when that therapy is discontinued. A hypertensive emergency is a situation in which blood pressure is severely elevated and there is evidence of actual or probable target organ damage.
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 Explanation: Risk factors for cardiovascular problems in clients with hypertension include smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, impaired renal function, obesity, physical inactivity, age, and family history.
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 adrenal gland Explanation: 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 administering medications on a medical-surgical unit. A client is ordered to receive 40 mg oral nadolol for the treatment of hypertension. Before administering the medication, the nurse should
check the client's heart rate. Explanation: Nadolol is a beta-blocker. A desired effect of this medication is to reduce the pulse rate in clients with tachycardia and elevated blood pressure (BP). The nurse should check the client's heart rate (HR) before administering nadolol to ensure that the pulse is not less than 60 beats per minute. The other interventions are not indicated before administering a beta-blocker medication.
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. Explanation: Reduced stress decreases the production of neurotransmitters that constrict peripheral arterioles. Reduced stress may assist in reducing blood volume and resistance to the heart
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. Explanation: Normally, in the absence of 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 anatomical variant.
The nurse understands that client education related to antihypertensive medication should include which of the following?
inform client to avoid over-the-counter cold and sinus medications Explanation: Doubling doses could cause serious hypotension (HTN) and is not recommended. Medications should be taken as prescribed. Many over-the-counter preparations can precipitate HTN. Stopping antihypertensives abruptly can precipitate a severe hypertensive reaction and is not recommended. Patients with hypertension must make considerable effort to adhere recommended lifestyle modifications.
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. 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.
Which client statement indicates a good understanding of the nutritional modifications needed to manage hypertension?
"Limiting my salt intake to 2 grams per day will improve my blood pressure." Explanation: 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
Approximately what percentage of adults in the United States have hypertension?
30 Explanation: About 32.6% of the adults in the United States have hypertension.
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 Explanation: 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.
Which describes a situation in which blood pressure is severely elevated and there is evidence of actual or probable target organ damage?
Hypertensive emergency Explanation: A hypertensive emergency is a situation in which blood pressure is severely elevated and there is evidence of actual or probable target organ damage. Hypertensive urgency is a situation in which blood pressure is severely elevated but there is no evidence of actual or probable target organ damage. Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure from an identified cause, such as renal disease. Primary hypertension denotes high blood pressure from an unidentified source.
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. Explanation: 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.
The nurse is caring for a client newly diagnosed with hypertension. Which statement by the client indicates the need for further teaching?
"If I take my blood pressure and it is normal, I don't have to take my blood pressure pills." Explanation: The client needs to understand the disease process and how lifestyle changes and medications can control hypertension. The client must take all medications as directed. A normal blood pressure indicates the medication is producing the desired effect. The other responses do not indicate the need for further teaching.
Which of the following would be inconsistent with a hypertensive urgency?
Intracranial hemorrhage Explanation: Elevated blood pressure in hypertensive urgency is associated with severe headache, epistaxis, and anxiety. An example of a hypertensive emergency is a myocardial infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, or dissecting aortic aneurysm.
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 Explanation: 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.
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 Explanation: 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.
Which diagnostic method is recommended to determine whether left ventricular hypertrophy has occurred?
Echocardiography Explanation: 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.
Which finding indicates that hypertension is progressing to target organ damage?
Retinal blood vessel damage Explanation: 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.
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?" Explanation: 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 blood pressure (BP) of 140/90 mm Hg is considered to be
hypertension. Explanation: 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 systolic blood pressure of 135 mm Hg would be classified as
prehypertension. Explanation: A systolic blood pressure of 135 mm Hg is classified as prehypertension. A systolic BP less than 120 mm Hg is normal. A systolic BP of 140 to 159 mm Hg is stage I hypertension. A systolic BP greater than or equal to 160 is classified as stage 2 hypertension.
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 Explanation: Hypertensive emergencies are acute, life-threatening BP elevations that require prompt treatment in an intensive care setting because of the serious target organ damage that may occur. The finding of numbness and weakness in left arm may indicate the client is experiencing neurological symptoms associated with an ischemic stroke because of the severely elevated BP; immediate intervention is required. Urine output of 40 mL/h is within normal limits. The other findings are likely caused by the hypertension and require intervention, but they do not require action as urgently as the neurologic changes.
