Hypertensive emergency
NCLEX-RN glossary · Physiological Adaptation
Definition
An acute, severe elevation in blood pressure (typically >180/120 mm Hg) characterized by the presence of acute end-organ damage (e.g., encephalopathy, acute coronary syndrome, or renal failure).
Hypertensive emergency in plain English
It requires immediate intervention to prevent permanent organ failure or death; nursing judgment must ensure blood pressure is lowered gradually to avoid cerebral ischemia. The main trap is prioritizing the immediate return of blood pressure to a normal range (e.g., 120/80) based on folklore, which can cause watershed strokes due to rapid drops in perfusion pressure.
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