Question

A hospital client tells the nurse about feeling anxious about "being in this place." When the nurse checks the client's blood pressure, it is elevated, along with the client's heart rate. The nurse rechecks the blood pressure about 10 minutes later and it is normal. The client asks the nurse if there is a concern for hypertension. What statement will guide the nurse's response?

Answer 1

Answer:

The statement the patient makes about being anxious in "this place".

Explanation:

This should alert the nurse right away that the patient is experiencing anxiety from being in a clinical setting,  and that is likely the cause for the elevated blood pressure and heart rate. The second reading is helpful confirmation of this, and should be used to console the patient and assure them that the risk of hypertension is minimal, and it may just be due to the anxiety they mentioned experiencing.