Final answer:
A nurse would anticipate administering antihypertensive medications such as thiazide-diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs to a patient with hypertension and heart failure. Beta blockers may also be used to control heart rate, while IV antihypertensives might be administered in a hypertensive crisis.
Step-by-step explanation:
When treating a client with a long history of hypertension who has developed heart failure, a nurse would anticipate giving medications that are used to treat or improve symptoms of cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure and heart failure.
Several classes of antihypertensive medications are available, such as thiazide-diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Medications like beta blockers work by blocking beta-1 receptors, which can slow the heart rate (HR). It is important to dose these medications appropriately as overprescription can lead to serious complications such as bradycardia.
In addition, in acute scenarios like a hypertensive crisis, antihypertensive drugs may be administered intravenously to quickly reduce blood pressure and decrease the risk of heart failure. Implementing antihypertensive medications should follow a stepped care approach to achieve the target blood pressure levels.