A 22-year-old patient arrives in the emergency department ( ED ) with multiple abrasions after a motor vehicle accident and has an initial blood pressure ( BP ) of 180/98. The nurse will plan to

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Because hypertension is expected when a patient has experienced an acute stressor, the nurse should plan to check the BP before discharge, which will provide a more accurate idea of the patient's usual blood pressure. Hypertension that occurs in response to acute stress does not increase risk for health problems such as stroke, indicate a need for hospitalization, or indicate a need for IV antihypertensive medications.

A 22-Year-Old Patient Arrives in the Emergency Department ( ED