A patient with hypertension who has just started taking atenolol ...

[lidoalex]

A patient with hypertension who has just started taking atenolol (Tenormin) returns to the health clinic after 2 weeks for a follow-up visit. The blood pressure (BP) is unchanged from the previous visit. Which action should the nurse take first?
 
  a. Inform the patient about the reasons for a possible change in drug dosage.
  b. Question the patient about whether the medication is actually being taken.
  c. Inform the patient that multiple drugs are often needed to treat hypertension.
  d. Question the patient regarding any lifestyle changes made to help control BP.

Question 2

The nurse is assessing a patient who has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with a hypertensive emergency. Which finding is most important to report to the health care provider?
 
  a. Urine output over 8 hours is 250 mL less than the fluid intake.
  b. The patient cannot move the left arm and leg when asked to do so.
  c. Tremors are noted in the fingers when the patient extends the arms.
  d. The patient complains of a headache with pain at level 8/10 (0 to 10 scale).

[wtf444]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Because noncompliance with antihypertensive therapy is common, the nurse's initial action should be to determine whether the patient is taking the atenolol as prescribed. The other actions also may be implemented, but these would be done after assessing patient compliance with the prescribed therapy.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The patient's inability to move the left arm and leg indicates that a hemorrhagic stroke may be occurring and will require immediate action to prevent further neurologic damage. The other clinical manifestations are also likely caused by the hypertension and will require rapid nursing actions, but they do not require action as urgently as the neurologic changes.

[lidoalex]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[Alyson.hiatt@yahoo.com]

Excellent