A nurse is caring for a client who is taking antihypertensive medication and is moving from a supine to a sitting position.
Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing orthostatic hypotension?
The client's heart rate increases by 10/min.
The client's diastolic blood pressure increases by 10 mm Hg.
The client reports heart palpitations.
The client's systolic blood pressure decreases by 25 mm Hg.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
An increase in heart rate by 10 beats per minute when moving from a supine to a sitting position is a normal physiological response to compensate for decreased venous return and maintain cardiac output. This response does not indicate orthostatic hypotension.
Choice B rationale:
An increase in diastolic blood pressure by 10 mm Hg when moving from a supine to a sitting position is a normal response to compensate for the effects of gravity on blood flow. It helps maintain perfusion to vital organs and does not indicate orthostatic hypotension.
Choice C rationale:
Heart palpitations can occur due to various reasons, including anxiety or arrhythmias, but they are not specific signs of orthostatic hypotension. This symptom alone does not confirm the presence of orthostatic hypotension.
Choice D rationale:
A decrease in systolic blood pressure by 25 mm Hg or more when moving from a supine to a sitting position indicates orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a drop in systolic blood pressure of 20 mm Hg or more or a drop in diastolic blood pressure of 10 mm Hg or more within 3 minutes of standing up. This condition can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting and can be a side effect of antihypertensive medications or other underlying medical conditions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Correct. Having regular interdisciplinary team meetings allows healthcare professionals from various disciplines to collaborate, share information, and ensure coordinated care for the client with complex needs.
B. Noting changes in the treatment plan in the client's medical record is important, but it may not directly promote effective communication among staff.
C. Recording the client's progress in the nurses' notes is essential but may not address the need for communication among the entire care team.
D. Posting swallowing precautions at the head of the client's bed is important for the client's safety but does not directly address communication among staff members.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Nonreactive pupils are not typically associated with pseudoparkinsonism.
B. Smacking lips is not typically associated with pseudoparkinsonism.
C. Serpentine limb movement is not typically associated with pseudoparkinsonism.
D. Correct. Pseudoparkinsonism is a side effect of antipsychotic medications like haloperidol. It is characterized by motor symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, including a shuffling gait, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowed movement), and resting tremor.
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