Chapter 39: Antihypertensives

1. A patient is diagnosed with borderline hypertension and states a desire to make lifestyle changes to avoid needing to take medication. The nurse will recommend which changes?

2. A patient has an average blood pressure of 135/85 mm Hg based on the average of three separate measurements. The nurse understands that this patient should be treated with which of the following?

3. A 65-year-old patient has a blood pressure of 155/95 mm Hg. The nurse understands that with treatment, the goal for this patient’s blood pressure is

4. The nurse is caring for an African-American patient who has been taking a beta blocker to treat hypertension for several weeks with only slight improvement in blood pressure. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss which of the following?

5. The nurse is preparing to care for a Native American patient who has hypertension. The nurse understands that which antihypertensive medication would be most effective in this patient?

6. The nurse is caring for an 80-year-old patient who has just begun taking a thiazide diuretic to treat hypertension. What is an important aspect of care for this patient?

7. The nurse is performing an assessment on a patient who will begin taking propranolol (Inderal) to treat hypertension. The nurse learns that the patient has a history of asthma and diabetes. The nurse will take which action?

8. The nurse is admitting a patient who has been taking minoxidil (Loniten) to treat resistant hypertension. Prior to beginning therapy with this medication, the patient had a blood pressure of 170/95 mm Hg and a heart rate of 72 beats per minute. The nurse assesses the patient and notes a blood pressure of 130/72 mm Hg and a heart rate of 78 beats per minute, and also notes a 2.2-kg weight gain since the previous hospitalization and edema of the hands and feet. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss which intervention?

9. The nurse is teaching a patient who has hypertension about long-term management of the disease with alpha blocker therapy. The patient reports typically consuming 1 to 2 glasses of wine each evening with meals. How will the nurse respond?

10. A patient who has recently begun taking captopril (Capoten) to treat hypertension calls a clinic to report a persistent cough that started right after starting the captopril. The nurse will perform which action?

11. The nurse is preparing to administer an ACE inhibitor to a patient who has hypertension. The patient started the ACE inhibitor the day prior. The nurse notes peripheral edema and swelling of the patient’s lips. The patient has a blood pressure of 160/80 mm Hg and a heart rate of 76 beats per minute. What is the nurse’s next action?

12. The nurse is caring for a patient who will begin taking lisinopril (Zestril) for hypertension. The nurse reviews the patient’s laboratory test results and notes increased BUN and creatinine. Which action will the nurse take?

13. The nurse is caring for a hospitalized patient who experiences an acute spike in blood pressure. The nurse will expect an order to administer which medication?

14. The nurse is caring for a 70-year-old patient who has recently begun taking amlodipine (Norvasc) 5 mg/day to control hypertension. The nurse notes mild edema of the patient’s ankles, a blood pressure of 130/70 mm Hg, and a heart rate of 80 beats per minute. The patient reports flushing and dizziness. The nurse will notify the provider and:

1. The nurse teaches a patient about their antihypertensive medication. Which statements by the patient indicate understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply.)