While the nurse is taking the client’s blood pressure, the client asks

While the nurse is taking the client’s blood pressure, the client asks if the reading is high. In ac-cordance with the newest guidelines, the nurse informs the client that a blood pressure measure-ment that is consistent with hypertension is:

1. 120/70 mm Hg
2. 130/84 mm Hg
3. 120/78 mm Hg
4. 118/80 mm Hg

ANSWER

ANS: 2
The diagnosis of prehypertension in adults is made when an average of two or more diastolic readings on at least two subsequent visits is between 80 and 89 mm Hg or when the average of multiple systolic blood pressures on two or more subsequent visits is between 120 and 139 mm Hg. Hypertension is noted with diastolic readings greater than 90 mm Hg and systolic readings greater than 140 mm Hg. According to the newest guidelines, this client’s blood pressure reading (130/84 mm Hg) would fall into the pre-hypertension category.
Normal is 120/80 mm Hg; this is a normal blood pressure reading.
Normal is 120/80 mm Hg; this is a normal blood pressure reading.
Normal is 120/80 mm Hg; this is a normal blood pressure reading.