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 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.

Methyldopa is a drug that lowers blood pressure by reducing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.

One of the possible side effects of methyldopa is hypotension, which means abnormally low blood pressure.Hypotension can cause dizziness, fainting, and shock.

Choice A) Bradycardia is wrong because methyldopa does not affect the heart rate directly.Bradycardia means a slow heart rate, which can be caused by other drugs or conditions.

Choice C) Hyperkalemia is wrong because methyldopa does not affect the potassium levels in the blood.Hyperkalemia means high potassium levels, which can be caused by kidney problems or other drugs.

Choice D) Hyperglycemia is wrong because methyldopa does not affect the glucose levels in the blood.Hyperglycemia means high glucose levels, which can be caused by diabetes or other conditions.

Normal ranges for blood pressure are 90/60 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg, for heart rate are 60 to 100 beats per minute, for potassium are 3.5 to 5.0 mmol/L, and for glucose are 70 to 100 mg/dL.