A young female science teacher arrives at the health center with a respiratory infection; she tells the nurse that she does not like to "go to a doctor" and is feeling anxious about "being here."

Question

When the nurse checks her blood pressure, it is elevated along with her heart rate. The nurse rechecks her blood pressure about 10 minutes later and it is normal. The patient asks the nurse if she should be concerned that she may have hypertension. What is the nurse's best response?
A) She should not worry; it was stress related and her regular blood pressure is good.
B) The first blood pressure was part of a simple stress response; our long-term blood pressure is controlled by negative feedback systems.
C) Blood pressure is only one measure of hypertension; she should review this with the doctor and plan to recheck it on a regular basis.
D) The respiratory infection is the probably the cause of the elevated blood pressure, and, with treatment, her blood pressure should remain normal.

Answer 1

Ans: B
Feedback: A simple stress response will temporarily elevate a blood pressure and heart rate. Long-term blood pressure response is controlled by negative feedback systems.
For a science teacher, this would be an appropriate level of teaching/learning and would serve to promote health. Option A is incorrect; the nurse is assuming her blood pressure in good based on only two blood pressure readings. Option C is incorrect; the nurse has given the patient a vague answer without rationale. Option D is incorrect; the stress of a respiratory infection could account for the elevated blood pressure, but assuring the patient that with treatment her blood pressure will return to normal may not be true.