A nurse is caring for a patient with a blood pressure reading of 148/92 mmHg. What classification of blood pressure is this reading?

Choice A reason: Normal blood pressure is <120/<80 mmHg, far below 148/92 mmHg, which is stage 2 hypertension per AHA guidelines. Assuming normal misclassifies the reading, risking untreated hypertension, leading to complications like stroke or heart failure. Accurate classification ensures proper management with lifestyle changes or medications.

Choice B reason: Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139/80-89 mmHg, lower than 148/92 mmHg, which is stage 2. Misclassifying as stage 1 underestimates severity, potentially delaying aggressive treatment like dual antihypertensives. Correct staging ensures timely intervention, critical for preventing cardiovascular damage in patients with elevated blood pressure readings.

Choice C reason: Stage 2 hypertension, per AHA, is ≥140/≥90 mmHg, matching 148/92 mmHg. This requires immediate lifestyle changes and likely medications to prevent cardiovascular events. Accurate classification guides treatment, ensuring blood pressure control, reducing risks of stroke, heart attack, or kidney damage in patients with significant hypertension.

Choice D reason: Elevated blood pressure is 120-129/<80 mmHg, below 148/92 mmHg, which is stage 2 hypertension. Assuming elevated underestimates the condition, risking inadequate intervention and progression to organ damage. Correct classification ensures appropriate management, critical for controlling hypertension and preventing long-term complications in affected patients.

Choice A reason: Vital signs are objective, measurable data, not specific to musculoskeletal assessment or subjective experience. Pain, a subjective report, better fits the question. Assuming vital signs are subjective risks misclassifying data, leading to errors in prioritizing patient-reported symptoms like pain, critical for musculoskeletal care planning and intervention.

Choice B reason: Taking NSAIDs is a factual history, not a subjective assessment. Subjective data, like pain severity, reflect patient experience. Assuming medication use is subjective misaligns with assessment principles, risking neglect of patient-reported symptoms like pain, essential for evaluating musculoskeletal conditions and guiding effective pain management strategies.

Choice C reason: Pain rated 7 to 8 is subjective, based on the patient’s personal experience, central to musculoskeletal assessment for conditions like arthritis or injury. This guides pain management, like adjusting NSAIDs. Accurate identification ensures patient-centered care, addressing discomfort and improving function, critical for musculoskeletal health outcomes.

Choice D reason: Grimacing and holding a body part are objective, observable signs, not subjective reports. Pain severity, reported by the patient, is subjective. Assuming grimacing is subjective risks misclassification, potentially overlooking patient-reported pain levels, critical for tailoring interventions like analgesics in musculoskeletal assessment and care planning.