Question

A community health nurse is providing care to a client who has stopped taking their prescribed blood pressure medication. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

a) Report the noncompliance to the primary care provider
b) Schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss medication concerns
c) Provide education on the importance of medication adherence
d) Check the client's blood pressure and assess for signs of hypertensive crisis

Answer 1

The nurse should first check the client's blood pressure and assess for signs of hypertensive crisis. This is the most immediate action to take as it provides critical information to guide further actions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should first check the client's blood pressure and assess for signs of hypertensive crisis. This is the most immediate action to take as it allows the nurse to evaluate the client's current blood pressure level and determine if there is a need for immediate intervention. It provides critical information to guide further actions.

After assessing the client's blood pressure, the nurse can then take additional steps such as providing education on the importance of medication adherence, scheduling a follow-up appointment to discuss medication concerns, and reporting the noncompliance to the primary care provider. However, these actions can be done in a timely manner once the nurse has determined the client's current blood pressure status.