A nurse in the ER is caring for a patient who had fallen at home. She reviews the blood pressure reading of 160/80 mm Hg. The client denies any history of hypertension. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Ask the client if she is having pain
Request a prescription for an antianxiety medication
Request a prescription for an antihypertensive medication
Return in 30 min to recheck the client’s blood pressure
The Correct Answer is A
A. Ask the client if she is having pain.
This option recognizes the potential relationship between pain and elevated blood pressure. Assessing the client for pain is crucial, as pain can contribute to increased blood pressure.
B. Request a prescription for an antianxiety medication.
This option assumes that anxiety might be the cause of the elevated blood pressure. However, without further assessment, it may not be appropriate to jump to prescribing medication for anxiety.
C. Request a prescription for an antihypertensive medication.
Initiating antihypertensive medication without further assessment may not be the most appropriate first step, especially if the elevated blood pressure is related to pain or another temporary factor.
D. Return in 30 minutes to recheck the client’s blood pressure.
While monitoring blood pressure is important, waiting 30 minutes without further assessment or intervention might delay addressing the underlying issue, especially if it is related to pain or another acute problem.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Assess the pedal pulses with a Doppler device:
Assessing the pedal pulses with a Doppler device may be useful in certain situations, but when the radial pulse is irregular, it's more important to assess the central (apical) pulse to get a more accurate representation of the heart's rhythm.
B. Assess the apical pulse with a Doppler device:
While using a Doppler device on the apical pulse is an option, it's generally not the first choice when assessing irregular pulses. The apical pulse can often be palpated manually, and it's more practical to assess it directly for irregularities.
C. Assess the apical pulse for a full minute:
This is the recommended action when the radial pulse is irregular. By assessing the apical pulse for a full minute, the nurse can accurately determine the heart rate and identify any irregularities in rhythm, providing a comprehensive assessment of the cardiac status.
D. Assess the pedal pulses for a full minute:
While assessing the pedal pulses is important in certain situations, it may not be the priority when dealing with an irregular radial pulse. Assessing the apical pulse for a full minute gives a more direct and accurate reflection of the heart's rhythm.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Lub-dub sounds:
This describes the normal heart sounds, with the "lub" representing the closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves (S1) and the "dub" representing the closing of the aortic and pulmonic valves (S2). This is the typical and expected sound of a healthy heart.
B. Gentle blowing or swooshing noise:
This describes the characteristic sound of a heart murmur. Murmurs are abnormal sounds caused by turbulent blood flow, and they are often described as a gentle blowing or swooshing noise heard between the normal heart sounds.
C. Scratchy, leathery heart noise:
This description is not typical for heart sounds or murmurs. Heart sounds are usually described in terms of tones, clicks, or swooshing rather than scratchy or leathery.
D. Abrupt, high-pitched snapping noise:
This description is not typical for heart sounds or murmurs. Heart murmurs are generally characterized by a more continuous, blowing, or swooshing quality, rather than abrupt, high-pitched snapping noises.
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