Prenatal clients are routinely monitored for early signs of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).
For the prenatal client, which of the following blood pressure changes from baseline would be most significant for the nurse to report as indicative of PIH?
A . 136/88 to 144/93
B . 132/78 to 124/76
C . 114/70 to 140/88
D . 140/90 to 148/98
Answer: C
Explanation:
(A) These blood pressure changes reflect only an 8 mm Hg systolic and a 5 mm Hg diastolic increase, which is insufficient for blood pressure changes indicating PIH.
(B) These blood pressure changes reflect a decrease in systolic pressure of 8 mm Hg and diastolic pressure of 2 mm Hg; these values are not indicative of blood pressure increases reflecting PIH.
(C) The definition of PIH is an increase in systolic blood pressure of 30 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure of 15 mm Hg. These blood pressures reflect a change of 26 mm Hg systolically and 18mm Hg diastolically.
(D) These blood pressures reflect a change of only 8 mm Hg systolically and 8 mm Hg diastolically, which is insufficient for blood pressure changes indicating PIH.