The nurse is assessing a client with a hypertensive emergency. Which finding is most important to report to the health care provider?

The client reports a headache with pain at level 5 of 10

The client has epistaxis after blowing his nose several times

The client has a urine output of 120 mL over a 4 hours

The client has a new-onset blurry vision and facial asymmetry

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Among the given findings, the most important finding to report to the health care provider in a client with a hypertensive emergency is the new-onset blurry vision and facial asymmetry. These symptoms may indicate that the client is experiencing a hypertensive crisis with potential complications such as hypertensive encephalopathy or stroke.

Blurred vision and facial asymmetry are concerning neurological symptoms that suggest possible damage to the blood vessels or organs in the brain. It is crucial to notify the health care provider immediately so that appropriate interventions can be initiated to address the underlying cause and prevent further complications.

While the other findings may also be associated with elevated blood pressure, the new-onset blurry vision and facial asymmetry indicate possible neurological involvement and require immediate attention. Headache, epistaxis (nosebleed), and decreased urine output may be significant symptoms, but the potential neurological implications make the new-onset blurry vision and facial asymmetry the priority for reporting.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The nurse should best follow up the assessment ﬁnding of an ankle-brachial index (ABI) of 0.40 in the right leg by implementing interventions relevant to arterial narrowing.

An ankle-brachial index is a non-invasive test used to assess peripheral arterial disease (PAD). An ABI value below 0.90 indicates signiﬁcant arterial narrowing and impaired blood ﬂow to the lower extremities. An ABI of 0.40 suggests severe arterial narrowing, which puts the client at risk for reduced perfusion and potential complications such as tissue ischemia, ulceration, and gangrene.

Implementing interventions relevant to arterial narrowing is crucial in this case. These interventions may include:

Collaborating with the healthcare provider to develop a treatment plan: This may involve prescribing medications to improve blood ﬂow, such as antiplatelet agents or vasodilators.
Encouraging lifestyle modiﬁcations: This can include smoking cessation, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet low in saturated fats and high in fruits and vegetables.
Promoting optimal cardiovascular health: This can involve managing other risk factors for arterial narrowing, such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
Educating the client about the signs and symptoms of PAD: This includes teaching them to monitor for changes in skin color, temperature, and sensation in the affected limb, as well as the importance of seeking prompt medical attention if these changes occur.

Let's review the other options:

Assessing the client's use of over-the-counter dietary supplements: While it is important to assess for potential interactions between medications and dietary supplements, this would not be the immediate follow-up action for a severely reduced ABI.

Encouraging the client to increase intake of foods high in vitamin K: While maintaining a balanced diet is important for overall health, increasing vitamin K intake is not speciﬁcally indicated for addressing arterial narrowing or improving the ABI.

Adjusting the client's activity level to accommodate decreased coronary output:

Coronary output refers to blood ﬂow to the heart muscle. Arterial narrowing in the leg does not directly affect coronary output. However, it is important to encourage appropriate physical activity for the client based on their overall cardiovascular health and exercise tolerance.

A. A client with a blood pressure of 190/92 mm Hg who reports chest pain B. A client with a blood pressure of 190/104 mm Hg who has sinus tachycardia C. A client with a blood pressure of 178/90 mm Hg who has intermittent claudication D. A client with a blood pressure of 172/98 mm Hg scheduled for a stress test

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The nurse should assess the client with a blood pressure of 190/92 mm Hg who reports chest pain ﬁrst. Chest pain can be a symptom of myocardial ischemia or a heart attack, which requires immediate attention. The combination of high blood pressure and chest pain is concerning and may indicate acute coronary syndrome. Prompt assessment and intervention are crucial to evaluate the cause of the chest pain and initiate appropriate treatment.

A client with a blood pressure of 190/104 mm Hg who has sinus tachycardia: While sinus tachycardia may indicate increased heart rate, it does not necessarily require immediate assessment unless other concerning symptoms are present. However, the nurse should address the elevated blood pressure in a timely manner.

Intermittent claudication refers to leg pain or discomfort during physical activity due to reduced blood ﬂow. While it is important to assess and manage this symptom, it is not typically considered an urgent condition requiring immediate assessment compared to chest pain.

The client scheduled for a stress test may have elevated blood pressure, but if they are stable and not currently experiencing symptoms, they may not require immediate assessment compared to a client with chest pain.

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The nurse is assessing a client with a hypertensive emergency. Which finding is most important to report to the health care provider?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

While assessing a client, the nurse notes that the client's ankle-brachial index (ABI) of the right leg is 0.40. How should the nurse best follow up this assessment ﬁnding?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The nurse on the intermediate care unit received change-of-shift report on four clients with hypertension. Which patient should the nurse assess ﬁrst?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is teaching a hypertensive client who is taking hydrochlorothiazide. What client statement indicates understanding about hydrochlorothiazide?

The charge nurse observes a new registered nurse (RN) doing discharge teaching for a client with hypertension who has a new prescription for enalapril (Vasotec). Which statement of the nurse to the patient would require the charge nurse's intervention?

The nurse is caring for a client with hypertension who is on alpha blockers. The nurse is concerned about postural hypotension. Which information should the nurse include in the teaching plan?

A nurse is assessing a client with a history of high blood pressure. The client's blood pressure is 210/106 mm Hg during the assessment. What follow-up question should the nurse ask?

The nurse is discussing discharge teaching with the client who is three (3) days post-operative abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Which information should the nurse include in the teaching?

The nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are caring for four clients on a telemetry unit. Which nursing task would be best for the nurse to delegate to the UAP?

The nurse is reviewing the medical records of a client with atrial fibrillation. Which prescription should the nurse question?

The nurse is admitting a client with Abdominal aortic aneurysm. Which assessment data would support the diagnosis?