A nurse is administering nifedipine to a client with gestational hypertension as prescribed by the provider.

Which of the following actions would the nurse take to ensure safe administration of this medication?

The correct answer is choice B, D and E. These are signs and symptoms of preeclampsia, a serious complication of gestational hypertension that can affect the mother and the baby.Preeclampsia is marked by high blood pressure and protein in urine or other signs of organ damage.

Choice A is wrong because swelling of the face, hands or feet is a common symptom of pregnancy and does not necessarily indicate preeclampsia.However, sudden or severe swelling can be a warning sign and should be checked by a healthcare provider.

Choice C is wrong because severe headache is a symptom of preeclampsia, not gestational hypertension.Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy and does not have protein in urine or other signs of organ damage.

Some normal ranges for blood pressure during pregnancy are:

• Systolic (top number): less than 140 mm Hg

• Diastolic (bottom number): less than 90 mm Hg

Some normal ranges for protein in urine during pregnancy are:

• Less than 300 mg per 24 hours

• Less than 0.3 g per liter

The correct answer is choice A. Check blood pressure before and after giving the medication.Nifedipine is an antihypertensive medication that is used to treat gestational hypertension.It lowers blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels and reducing the workload of the heart.Checking blood pressure before and after giving the medication helps to monitor the effectiveness and safety of the treatment.

Choice B is wrong because grapefruit juice can interact with nifedipine and increase its blood levels, which can cause excessive lowering of blood pressure or other side effects.Grapefruit juice should be avoided when taking nifedipine.

Choice C is wrong because nifedipine does not affect the pulse rate significantly.Holding the medication if pulse rate is below 60 beats per minute is more appropriate for beta-blockers, such as labetalol, which are another class of antihypertensive medications that can slow down the heart rate.

Choice D is wrong because nifedipine does not cause hypoglycemia.Monitoring blood glucose levels for signs of hypoglycemia is more relevant for medications that lower blood sugar, such as insulin or oral antidiabetic agents.

Normal ranges for blood pressure and pulse rate during pregnancy are 110-140/60-90 mmHg and 60-100 beats per minute, respectively.Normal range for blood glucose level during pregnancy is 70-110 mg/dL.