A patient in a hypertensive emergency is admitted to the ICU. The nurse anticipates that the patient will be treated with IV vasodilators, and that the primary goal of treatment is what?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Initially, the treatment goal in hypertensive emergencies is to reduce the mean arterial pressure by $25 \%$ in the first hour of treatment, with further reduction over the next 24 hours. Lowering the BP too fast may cause hypotension in a patient whose body has adjusted to hypertension and could cause a stroke, MI, or visual changes. Neurologic symptoms should be addressed, but this is not the primary focus of treatment planning.

A Patient in a Hypertensive Emergency Is Admitted to the ICU