Question

In her 30th week of gestation, a 16-year-old primigravida whose usual blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg has a blood pressure of 130/88 mm Hg. She is admitted to the birthing unit and says, I don't know why the doctor is so worried about my blood pressure. According to a book I have, it's normal. The nurse should respond, Your:

A. physician is being cautious.
B. blood pressure is high for your age group.
C. blood pressure is increased according to pregnancy guidelines.
D. textbook is for older women who have higher blood pressures.

Answer 1

The nurse should inform the student that her blood pressure is considered increased according to pregnancy guidelines, which is why her doctor is concerned and monitoring it closely.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should respond, Your blood pressure is increased according to pregnancy guidelines. New guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association list normal blood pressure as less than 120/80 mm Hg and elevated blood pressure as systolic pressure between 120-129 and diastolic pressure less than 80 mm Hg. In pregnancy, it's important to monitor blood pressure closely because hypertension can lead to complications for both the mother and baby, including preeclampsia, a serious condition that can occur during pregnancy. The answer to the student's scenario is C because the measured blood pressure of 130/88 mm Hg falls into the category that should be monitored closely during pregnancy.