Question 1

The nurse becomes concerned that a male patient's blood pressure is 168/98 mm Hg after 6 months on antihypertensive medication. What question should the nurse ask after measuring this blood pressure?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should first verify if the patient is taking the medication as prescribed, as non-adherence is a common reason for uncontrolled blood pressure.

Question 2

The nurse is assessing a blood pressure of a patient and obtains a reading of 110/60 mm Hg. The nurse knows the patient falls under which category?

Accepted Answer

A blood pressure reading of 110/60 mm Hg is considered to be within the normal range. Normal blood pressure is generally defined as a systolic pressure less than 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure less than 80 mm Hg.

Question 3

The nurse is preparing to administer furosemide (Lasix) 20 mg intravenously to a patient with hypertension. The available dose is 40 mg/mL. How many mL will the nurse administer? Enter the numeral only.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is preparing to administer furosemide...

Question 4

The nurse is preparing to administer lisinopril (Prinivil) 40 mg by mouth to a patient with hypertension. The available does is 20 mg per tablet. How many tablets will the nurse administer? Enter the numeral only.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is preparing to administer lisinopril...

Question 5

The nurse is taking a medication history of a patient with a chronic cough. Which medication can the nurse suspect as contributing to the cough?

Accepted Answer

Lisinopril (Zestril) is an ACE inhibitor, which is known to cause a dry, persistent cough as a side effect. This is due to the accumulation of bradykinin in the lungs.

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a patient in hypertensive emergency. What should the nurse expect to be the goal when treatment is provided for this patient?

Accepted Answer

In a hypertensive emergency, the immediate goal is to reduce the blood pressure by no more than 25% within the first hour to prevent end-organ damage, rather than focusing on urine output, sodium impact, or potassium levels directly.

Question 7

The nurse is preparing to administer atenolol (Tenormin) to a patient with hypertension. The patient's blood pressure is 72/40 mm Hg. Which action should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

Atenolol is a beta-blocker used to lower blood pressure. Administering it to a patient with a blood pressure of 72/40 mm Hg could further lower the blood pressure, potentially causing harm. The nurse should notify the healthcare provider (HCP) due to the risk of exacerbating hypotension.

Question 8

The infection control nurse observes a nurse on a cardiac unit. Which actions by the nurse would require intervention by the infection control nurse? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

The answer of The infection control nurse observes a nurse...

Question 9

The nurse is reviewing complications of hypertension with a patient. Which should the nurse include in the teaching? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Hypertension can lead to heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and kidney failure due to the increased pressure in the blood vessels causing damage to the heart, brain, and kidneys. Liver disease and hypothyroidism are not directly caused by hypertension.

Question 10

The nurse is caring for a patient with hypertension who is being discharged home with a prescription of propranolol (Inderal). Which topics should the nurse include in the teaching? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Propranolol is a beta-blocker that can lower heart rate and blood pressure, so patients should check these before taking the medication to avoid excessively low values. It can also cause orthostatic hypotension, making it important to rise slowly to prevent dizziness. Abruptly stopping propranolol can lead to withdrawal symptoms and exacerbation of heart issues, so patients should consult their doctor before discontinuing. Potassium level monitoring is more commonly associated with medications like diuretics, and photosensitivity is not a noted side effect of propranolol.

Quiz 22: Nursing Care of Patients With Hypertension