Final answer:
A nurse should recognize asthma as a contraindication for prescribing propranolol to a patient with hypertension because it can exacerbate asthma symptoms by causing bronchoconstriction. Other conditions listed don't inherently restrict its use, but caution is required for diabetic patients since beta blockers can mask hypoglycemia.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse reviewing the medical record of a patient with hypertension should identify asthma as a contraindication for receiving propranolol, a beta blocker. Propranolol works by blocking beta-1 receptors, which can help slow the heart rate (HR) and treat hypertension. However, it can also cause bronchoconstriction by blocking beta-2 receptors, which are prominent in the bronchial smooth muscle, thus potentially exacerbating asthma symptoms. Among the options provided, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and osteoarthritis do not inherently contraindicate the use of propranolol. However, since beta blockers can mask the signs of low blood sugar, caution is advised when they are used in patients with diabetes.