A 66-year-old client presents to the emergency department reporting severe headache and mild nausea for the past 6 hours. upon assessment, the client's bp is 210/120 mm hg. the client has a history of hypertension and takes 1.0 mg clonidine twice daily. which question is most important for the nurse to ask the client next?

Question

Biology

Tristan Ellis

26 September, 07:05

A 66-year-old client presents to the emergency department reporting severe headache and mild nausea for the past 6 hours. upon assessment, the client's bp is 210/120 mm hg. the client has a history of hypertension and takes 1.0 mg clonidine twice daily. which question is most important for the nurse to ask the client next?

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Kamari Stein · Answer 1

The nurse must ask if the patient has taken his prescribed clonidine (Catapres).

The patient has been prescribed with clonidine in order to regulate his blood pressure. Clonidine is a medication which acts on the central nervous system, especially on the alpha-adrenergic receptors and reduces blood pressure. In this example, the patient has a history of hypertension and upon assessment, his blood pressure is at dangerously high levels. He could be suffering from a hypertensive crisis, which is a serious increase in the blood pressure and its symptoms include severe headaches, nausea and chest pain. Forgetting to take the blood pressure medication is one of the primary causes of a hypertensive crisis.