A patient tells the nurse that she does not like to go to the doctor and is feeling anxious about being in this place. When the nurse checks her blood pressure, it is elevated along with her heart rate. The nurse rechecks her blood pressure about 10 minutes later and it is normal. The patient asks the nurse if she should be concerned that she may have hypertension. What statement should guide the nurses response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A simple stress response will temporarily elevate a blood pressure and heart rate. Long-term blood pressure response is controlled by negative feedback systems.
For a science teacher, this would be an appropriate level of teaching/learning and would serve to promote health. The nurse would be incorrect in assuming the patients blood pressure is good based on only two blood pressure readings. The stress of a respiratory infection could account for the elevated blood pressure, but assuring the patient that, with treatment, her blood pressure will return to normal may not be true.

A Patient Tells the Nurse That She Does Not Like