What would be an assessment finding upon auscultating the heart that would lead the nurse to believe the patient has left ventricular enlargement?
The point of maximum impulse is not heard at the 5th intercostal space @ the mid-clavicular line.
What does your blood pressure reading have to be in order to be considered a stage 1 hypertensive?
130-139/ 90-99
What are the side effects of hypotension?
dizziness, lightheaded, and faint
Name some education material the nurse can give a patient diagnosed with stage 2 hypertension that is being discharged from the hospital.
Check your blood pressure a couple of times a day, usually at the same time. If you experience things such as dizziness, headache, nosebleeds contact your provider. Take your blood pressure medications, if you cannot afford your medications please contact your provider.
What can hypertension cause?
Heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular disease, other organ damage
What is a major side effect of ace inhibitors?
Cough (medication should be discontinued if this SE appears)
Angio edema- emergency
If a patient suddenly stops taking/refuses their blood pressure medication, what does the nurse need to look out for primarily?
Rebound hypertension.
In the elderly population what are some simple things nurses need to keep in mind regarding medication compliance?
Can the patient open the medication bottle?
Can the patient read the medication label?
Can the patient swallow the medication or is the pill too large?
A patient with no history of hypertension has a blood pressure reading of 165/97 in the providers office. Instead of recording that in the patients chart, what would the nurse do next?
Give the patient sometime alone and come back to reassess the blood pressure as they may be experiencing white coat syndrome.
What is the main difference between hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency?
Hypertensive urgency does NOT cause end organ damange.
How many people in the U.S. have hypertension?
ALOTTTTTT especially in the South
What is the major difference in side effects between ARBS and ACE inhibitors?
ARBS do not cause a cough or hyperkalemia
For sustained/extended release tablets, what do you need to advise the patients to do?
Do not chew or crush the tablet
The treatment goal for hypertensive emergency is to lower the patients blood pressure by ___ within the first hour?
25%