Question

What does the nurse assess to detect the presence of a hypertensive disorder in a pregnant patient? Select all that apply.

a. Proteinuria
b. Epigastric pain
c. Placenta previa
d. Presence of edema
e. Blood pressure (BP):

Answer 1

To detect the presence of a hypertensive disorder in a pregnant patient, the nurse assesses the patient's blood pressure, the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria), and the presence of edema (swelling).

Step-by-step explanation:

To detect the presence of a hypertensive disorder in a pregnant patient, the nurse assesses:

1. Blood pressure (BP): Hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure is routinely measured and found to be consistently elevated, with a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or above.
2. Proteinuria: Protein in the urine is an indicator of kidney damage, which can be a sign of hypertensive disorder.
3. Presence of edema: Swelling or fluid retention in the extremities can be a symptom of hypertensive disorder.

Epigastric pain and placenta previa are not specific assessments for hypertensive disorder in pregnancy.