A nurse on a busy orthopedic unit is preparing to administer morning medications. Which aspect of the assessment would be most important prior to the administration of an antihypertensive agent PO?
a. Early signs that an adverse reaction is occurring
b. Route by which the drug is to be administered
c. Patient's blood pressure prior to administration
d. Patient beginning complaints of a headache
ANS: C
Blood pressure measurement is imperative prior to the administration of an antihypertensive agent to prevent potential life-threatening complications.
The nurse cannot determine early signs of an adverse reaction if the medication has not yet been administered.
The route by which the drug is administered is not a priority in this question, because there is no indication the patient is having difficulty swallowing.
The patient's beginning complaints of a headache may be indicative of hypertension, which would be validated by taking the blood pressure, the priority assessment.
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