Question

A pregnant woman who is at 21 weeks of gestation has an elevated blood pressure of 140/98. Past medical history reveals that the woman has been treated for hypertension. On the basis of this information, the nurse would classify this patient as having:

A. Preeclampsia.
B. Gestational hypertension.
C. Superimposed preeclampsia.
D. Chronic hypertension.

Answer 1

A pregnant woman at 21 weeks of gestation with a history of hypertension and an elevated blood pressure would be classified as having superimposed preeclampsia. This is due to the patient's chronic hypertension prior to pregnancy and the new elevation in blood pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient, who is 21 weeks pregnant with a past medical history of hypertension and an elevated blood pressure of 140/98, would be classified as having superimposed preeclampsia. This classification is due to the presence of chronic hypertension before pregnancy, with new-onset proteinuria or other end-organ dysfunction after 20 weeks of gestation. Preeclampsia is a condition characterized by high blood pressure and often protein in the urine, which can occur in the second half of pregnancy. In this scenario, since the patient was already being treated for hypertension prior to pregnancy, and her blood pressure is elevated, the condition is considered to be superimposed upon her chronic hypertension. Treatment for preeclampsia is an essential part of prenatal care to prevent complications for both the mother and the fetus.