Final answer:
B. Ask the client if she is having pain. The nurse should ask the client if she is experiencing pain due to the fractured femur, which could cause a temporary elevation in blood pressure. Other actions, like prescribing medication, should come after pain evaluation and management.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse who is admitting a client with a fractured femur obtains a blood pressure (BP) reading of 140/94 mmHg and the client denies any history of hypertension (HTN). The appropriate next step for the nurse to take would be to ask the client if she is having pain. Pain can cause an acute increase in blood pressure, and a fractured femur is a condition that could lead to significant pain. Therefore, option B is the correct choice. Requesting a prescription for an antihypertensive or anti-anxiety medication without further assessment would be premature. Rechecking the client's BP in 30 minutes could be a subsequent step after assessing for pain and addressing it appropriately.
Regarding the provided references, a blood pressure reading of 70/45 mmHg coupled with confusion and thirst could indicate hypovolemia or shock. Additionally, a reading of 135/90 mm Hg would be considered prehypertension and the systolic pressure is 135 mm Hg which represents the maximum pressure during one heartbeat while the diastolic pressure is 90 mm Hg which represents the pressure when the heart is resting between beats. Alex's doctor may want him to lower his blood pressure to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Calculating pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure involves specific formulas and is important for understanding the health of the cardiovascular system.