Which action will the nurse in the hypertension clinic take in order to obtain an accurate baseline blood pressure(BP) for a new patient?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The patient should be seated with the feet flat on the floor. The BP is obtained in both arms, and the results of the two arms are not averaged. The patient does not need to be in the supine position. The cuff should be deflated at 2 to 3 mm Hg per second.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The medications of choice in hypertensive emergencies are those that have an immediate effect. IV vasodilators, including sodium nitroprusside (Nitropress), nicardipine hydrochloride (Cardene), clevidipine (Cleviprex), fenoldopam mesylate (Corlopam), enalaprilat, and nitroglycerin, have immediate actions that are short lived (minutes to 4 hours), and they are therefore used for initial treatment. Ramipril is administered orally and would not meet the patient's immediate need for BP management. Diuretics, such as Lasix, are not used as initial treatments and there is no indication for anticoagulants such as Coumadin.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: NO synthase is inactivated by haemoglobin, which binds to nitric oxide and reduces its bioavailability.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The volume of blood pumped through the lungs equals the volume exiting the heart, not entering it.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct sequence of conduction is SA node -> AV node -> AV bundle -> Bundle branches -> Purkinje fibers.