A nurse is caring for a client who is at 28 weeks of gestation and has a blood pressure of 160/100 mm Hg.

The nurse should anticipate a prescription for which of the following medications?

“I will resume my normal activities as soon as possible.” This statement indicates a need for further teaching because a woman who had severe pre-eclampsia should rest more often and avoid strenuous activities until her blood pressure is normal and stable.She should also follow up with her doctor regularly and monitor her blood pressure at home.

Choice A is wrong because it is important to monitor blood pressure at home for a few weeks after having pre-eclampsia.

This can help detect any signs of worsening hypertension or organ damage.

Choice B is wrong because it is advisable to call the doctor if there are any headaches or vision changes, as these could be signs of brain injury or eclampsia.

Eclampsia is a serious complication of pre-eclampsia that causes seizures.

Choice C is wrong because some over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen, can increase blood pressure and should be avoided by women with pre-eclampsia.However, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is usually safe to take for mild pain relief.

Normal ranges for blood pressure during pregnancy are less than 140/90 mmHg.Normal ranges for protein in urine during pregnancy are less than 300 mg in 24 hours.

The correct answer is choice A and E. The nurse should check the client’s blood pressure and magnesium level before giving hydralazine to a client with severe pre-eclampsia who is receiving magnesium sulfate intravenously.

• Choice A is correct because hydralazine is an antihypertensive drug that lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels.The nurse should monitor the client’s blood pressure before and after giving hydralazine to ensure that it is within the target range and to avoid hypotension or rebound hypertension.

• Choice B is wrong because pulse oximetry is not directly related to hydralazine administration or pre-eclampsia.Pulse oximetry measures the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the blood and can be affected by factors such as anemia, hypothermia, nail polish, or movement.

The nurse should monitor the client’s pulse oximetry as part of routine care, but it is not a priority before giving hydralazine.

• Choice C is wrong because checking the client’s reflexes is not directly related to hydralazine administration or pre-eclampsia.Reflexes are assessed to monitor for signs of magnesium toxicity, which can cause muscle weakness, respiratory depression, and cardiac arrest.

The nurse should check the client’s reflexes as part of routine care, but it is not a priority before giving hydralazine.

• Choice D is wrong because checking the client’s urine specific gravity is not directly related to hydralazine administration or pre-eclampsia.Urine specific gravity measures the concentration of solutes in the urine and can be affected by factors such as hydration status, renal function, or diuretic use.

The nurse should monitor the client’s urine specific gravity as part of routine care, but it is not a priority before giving hydralazine.

• Choice E is correct because magnesium sulfate is a drug that prevents and treats seizures in women with severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia.The nurse should monitor the client’s magnesium level before and after giving magnesium sulfate to ensure that it is within the therapeutic range and to avoid magnesium toxicity.