Author Question: A nurse is caring for a patient who smokes and drinks caffeine. Which point is important for the ... (Read 57 times)

WhattoUnderstand · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

A nurse is caring for a patient who smokes and drinks caffeine. Which point is important for the nurse to understand before assessing the patient's blood pressure (BP)?

a. Smoking increases BP for up to 3 hours.
b. Caffeine increases BP for up to 15 minutes.
c. Smoking result in vasoconstriction, falsely elevating BP.
d. Caffeine intake should not have occurred 30 to 40 minutes before BP measurement.

Question 2

A nurse reviews blood pressures of several patients. Which finding will the nurse report as prehypertension?

a. 98/50 in a 7-year-old child
b. 115/70 in an infant
c. 120/80 in a middle-aged adult
d. 146/90 in an older adult

joshraies · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Smoking results in vasoconstriction, a narrowing of blood vessels. BP rises when a person smokes and returns to baseline about 15-20 minutes after stopping smoking. Caffeine increases BP for up to 3 hours. Be sure that patient has not ingested caffeine or smoked 20 to 30 minutes before BP measurement.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
An adult's blood pressure tends to rise with advancing age. The optimal blood pressure for a healthy, middle-aged adult is less than 120/80. Values of 120 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg are considered prehypertension. Blood pressure greater than 140/90 is defined as hypertension. Blood pressure of 98/50 is normal for a child, whereas 115/70 can be normal for an infant.