A 9-year-old child has a blood pressure of 112/72 mmHg in the school nurse's office. What action by the school nurse is most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The suggested mean blood pressure for an 8- to 9-year-old child is 106/58 mmHg. The 95th percentile mean reading is 120/82 mmHg. Hypertension in children is defined as three readings above the 95th percentile, so this child's blood pressure is well within the normal range. The school nurse would document this reading in the child's records. There is no need for the nurse to worry about dehydration, the child's body mass index, or to refer the child for medication.

A 9-Year-Old Child Has a Blood Pressure of 112/72 MmHg