An older man who is admitted to the hospital for surgery has a history of medication therapy for hypertension. Which intervention does the nurse implement when the client reports that, "I've fallen twice in 5 weeks"?
a. Blood pressure monitoring every 2 hours
b. Orthostatic blood pressures
c. Serum creatinine levels
d. Blood levels of prescribed antihypertensive medications
ANS: B
Older adults are more likely to have orthostatic blood pressure changes due to less efficient baroreceptors. Another factor to note is that the patient is on blood pressure medication. Older adults are frequently more sensitive to medications that younger adults. Monitoring blood pressure every two hours is too frequent in a client who is not critically ill. Serum creatinine levels are related to renal function and there is no indication or renal problems. It is premature to do drug levels.
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