A patient with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH)is receiving nifedipine (Procardia).Which assessment would best indicate to the nurse that the patient's condition is improving?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Because a major symptom of IPAH is exertional dyspnea,an improvement in this symptom would indicate that the medication was effective.Nifedipine will affect BP and heart rate,but these parameters would not be used to monitor the effectiveness of therapy for a patient with IPAH.The chest x-ray will show clear lung fields even if the therapy is not effective.

A Patient with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH)is Receiving Nifedipine