Nursing Care Plan On Hypertension
Nursing Care Plan on Hypertension is used when a patient has high blood pressure and requires care from a nurse. A nursing diagnosis of hypertension may be used to assess the severity of the condition, determine appropriate interventions and measure their effectiveness in improving blood pressure control. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of nursing interventions that may help maintain optimal blood pressure levels in patients with hypertension
Nursing Care Plan On Hypertension
1 Nursing Diagnosis I
Nursing Diagnosis I:
Hypertension is a chronic disease that can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication. The nurse should assess the patient’s risk factors, health history, physical examination findings, laboratory data, and clinical manifestations of hypertension. The nurse will also guide the patient through treatment plans for lowering blood pressure levels through lifestyle changes and/or medications.
The first nursing diagnosis deals with managing hypertension. This could be done by implementing a plan to reduce blood pressure levels through healthy lifestyle changes and medications if needed (NANDA-I; 2017).
2 Assesment of Patient with Hypertension
As a nurse, it is important to assess for signs of hypertension. The patient has a systolic pressure of 170 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of 100 mm Hg. Blood pressure readings are taken in the arm using an appropriate-sized cuff with air release valves (See Figure 1). The patient is asked to sit quietly with feet flat on the floor and arms at sides. Blood pressure should be measured while sitting and lying down after 5 minutes (BP1), standing (BP2) and then again lying down for 5 minutes (BP3).
Patients who have been hypertensive for more than 3 months should be given an antihypertensive drug as soon as possible. To assess whether this patient has been treated properly you should ask them to bring their medication chart with them when they come into clinic tomorrow morning so that you can review it together.
3 Plan of Nursing Care for a Patient with Hypertension
- Identify and treat the cause of hypertension.
- Monitor for side effects of medication.
- Monitor for complications of hypertension.
- Monitor for signs of hypertension: HTN may present with a variety of symptoms, including headaches, ankle swelling, fainting spells (syncope), mental confusion or weakness; poor tolerance to exercise; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing when lying down at night; chest pain radiating from the back to front (rear end), pain when coughing/sneezing/laughing/swallowing food/beverages (RLS); shortness of breath on exertion (dyspnea); incontinence because urine leaks out when coughing/sneezing/laughing/swallowing food/beverages; memory loss or confusion (senile dementia); moodiness; difficulty concentrating or focusing on work tasks without losing focus frequently; blurred vision in one eye only or double vision that doesn’t go away when you close one eye
- Monitor for signs of complications: Chronic kidney disease with high blood pressure damages kidneys over time and can lead to end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or transplantation if left untreated
- Monitor vital signs every hour at first until stable then q 4 hours after that if no change in VS readings occur q 1 hour postprandial unless otherwise instructed by physician
4 Nursing Interventiona and Rationale for RNs in Charge of a Patient with Hypertension
Nursing Intervention and Rationale
In addition to taking antihypertensive medications, the patient might also be advised to make some lifestyle modifications. For example, if he were a smoker or exercised too much, the health care team might recommend that he stop smoking or reduce his level of physical activity. In addition, he could be encouraged to eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables since these foods are low in sodium (salt) content.
The health care team may also advise patients on ways they can manage their stress levels through relaxation techniques such as meditation or deep breathing exercises. Another approach is biofeedback therapy which helps people learn how to control their heart rate and blood pressure by observing their body’s reactions on an electronic monitor called an electrocardiograph (ECG). These techniques have been proven effective for managing hypertension but may not be suitable for all patients who have it
5 Evaluation of Desired Outcome in a Patient with Hypertension
The patient’s condition will be assessed and monitored by the following:
- The primary nurse will assess vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature and respirations.
- The physician will monitor laboratory tests for electrolyte levels.
- The patient’s progress will be evaluated at regular intervals in order to check whether treatment is having the desired effect.
6 This article gives you an idea about nursing care plan on hypertension.
This article gives you an idea about nursing care plan on hypertension. It is a sample of nursing care plan which is written by the professional nurse and edited by health experts.
If you want to know more about this topic, check out our other articles on hypertension:
- Nursing Care Plan for Hypertension
- High Blood Pressure Treatment Plan
Closing
Hypertension is a common condition that can be treated with lifestyle changes or medication, depending on the severity of your symptoms. However, if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend medications and other therapies to reduce your risk of complications.