A patient's blood pressure continues to be elevated despite being ...

[storky111]

A patient's blood pressure continues to be elevated despite being prescribed an ACE inhibitor for several weeks. What should the nurse do at this time?
 
  1. Ask if the patient is taking the prescribed medication.
  2. Suggest to the physician that another medication be added.
  3. Schedule the patient to have the blood pressure checked again in a week.
  4. Realize the patient is anxious because of the diagnosis.

Question 2

During the abdominal assessment of an elderly patient, the nurse palpates a mass in the midabdomen. What should the nurse do next?
 
  1. Percuss the mass.
  2. Ask the patient to cough.
  3. Get the physician.
  4. Auscultate the mass.

[owenfalvey]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1
Noncompliance, or failure to follow the identified treatment plan, is a continuing risk for any patient with a chronic disease. Prescribed medications may have undesirable effects, whereas hypertension itself often has no symptoms or noticeable effects. The nurse should inquire about reasons for noncompliance with the recommended treatment plan by assessing for factors that can contribute to noncompliance, such as adverse drug effects. If it is determined that the patient is not taking the prescribed medication, the other interventions would not be indicated at this time.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 4
Further assessment is needed before the physician would be contacted, typically first by phone. Most abdominal aneurysms are asymptomatic, but a pulsating mass in the mid- and upper abdomen and a bruit (the sound auscultated over turbulent or restricted blood flow) over the mass are found on exam. If an aneurysm were suspected, asking the patient to cough and percussing the mass would be inappropriate responses that could increase the pressure on the weakened site.

[storky111]

Excellent

[milbourne11]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it