Gestational HTN (Hypertension)
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For Gestational HTN (Hypertension)
Outline
Overview
- Elevated BP after 20 weeks
- Gestational HTN = BP greater than 140/90
Nursing Points
General
- It can progress and worsen to preeclampsia (see lesson on preeclampsia)
- Goal to monitor closely, prevent a dangerous progression to preeclampsia
- Might induce early when benefit of delivery outweighs risk of staying pregnant
- Monitoring includes:
- Labs (CBC, BMP, checking urine for protein, 24 hr urine for creatinine clearance)
- All done to ensure it is not progressing
- Monitor mother’s blood pressure
- Frequent assessments of baby (NST’s, ultrasounds)
- High pressures can reduce healthy blood flow to the fetus and restrict growth
- Labs (CBC, BMP, checking urine for protein, 24 hr urine for creatinine clearance)
Assessment
- Elevated BP (over 140/90) with no other signs/symptoms
- Assess closely for progression
- Hypertensive States of Pregnancy:
- Gestational HTN
- BP greater than 140/90
- Occurs after 20 weeks
- HTN prior to 20 weeks is labeled as “chronic”
- Preeclampsia and eclampsia
- See lesson on preeclampsia
- Gestational HTN
Therapeutic Management
- Antihypertensives
- Possible induction
Nursing Concepts
- Reproduction – always remember there’s a second life at stake
- Perfusion – BP control
Patient Education
- Signs to report to provider
- Headache, blurred vision, and increase in swelling
- BP monitoring and tracking
ADPIE Related Lessons
Related Nursing Process (ADPIE) Lessons for Gestational HTN (Hypertension)
Transcript
In this lesson I will explain gestational hypertension and the effects it has on the patient as well as your role in providing care
So what does all of this mean? The patient has an elevated blood pressure. Ok let’s talk about this in more detail. It is not just a little elevated, we are looking at blood pressures of 140/90 or greater AND an absolute must have is the 20 weeks gestation. The patient has to be 20 weeks or more pregnant. If she is under 20 weeks gestation then it is just called chronic hypertension. A patient with gestational hypertension will have no other symptoms. If there are other symptoms like proteinuria then it is progressing. Progressing to preeclampsia. So refer to the lesson on preeclampsia for more details on this. For this patient there will be close monitoring and they might induce early if the benefit of delivery outweighs the risk of staying pregnant. So what does monitoring mean? Monitoring will include lab work like CBC, BMP, and checking urine for protein. Monitoring blood pressures and frequent assessments of the baby with non stress tests and ultrasounds are done to make sure the fetus is getting the nutrients it needs and growing properly.
Our assessment is going to be of the elevated BP which rememer is 140/90 or over with no other signs/symptoms. Signs and symptoms are a signal that we are progressing to preeclampsia. Lab work assessment is done to again check for progression. We can’t forget to also assess the fetus. We have to make sure the fetus is in a safe environment and getting the nutrients that it needs. So with this fetal assessment we will check it’s growth because hypertension will cause growth restriction and also a non stress test or even an U/S for those measurements to ensure the baby is okay.
We need to manage the blood pressures to make sure we can keep the patient and fetus safe. So antihypertensives might be prescribed to help bring the blood pressure down. First line treatment is methyldopa and labetalol. Induction might need to be part of our management if the fetus or mother is at risk.
The patient needs education on signs to report to the provider. These are signs like headache, vision changes and increased swelling. These symptoms are signs that the hypertension could be progressing. She needs to know how to do BP monitoring at home and how to keep a log and report any high readings. She also needs to be instructed on any medications to help control the pressures.
The nursing concepts are going to be reproduction because gestational hypertension is caused by the reproduction and always remember there’s a second life at stake. Perfusion is the other concept because we are concerned with the high blood pressure and the organs including the placenta not getting perfused the way that they should.
So the key points to remember and know are this is hypertension. Hypertension is 140/90 or greater. The patient must be 20 weeks or more pregnant. This is a must have criteria. If the patient is 18 weeks pregnant and has a high blood pressure then she is just classified as being a chronic hypertensive patient. There are no other symptoms with this. If patients start having additional symptoms it could be a sign that the disease is progressing . Gestational hypertension does put the patient at risk just like a regular non pregnancy cardiac patient. They are at risk for perfusion problems. And remember we need to perfuse something very important, a baby! So without adequate perfusion the fetus doesn’t get healthy blood flow like it should and the baby will grow small and be grown restricted.
Make sure you check out the resources attached to this lesson. Now, go out and be your best selves today. And, as always, happy nursing.
KRISTELLE
Concepts Covered:
- Cardiac Disorders
- Cardiovascular
- Circulatory System
- Nervous System
- Skeletal System
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Shock
- Shock
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
- Endocrine
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Hematology
- Gastrointestinal
- Upper GI Disorders
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Newborn Complications
- Renal
- Respiratory
- Test Taking Strategies
- Note Taking
- Prefixes
- Suffixes
- Medication Administration
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Respiratory Disorders
- Respiratory System
- Urinary System
- Pregnancy Risks
- Labor Complications
- Hematologic Disorders
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Factors Influencing Community Health
- Delegation
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- Lower GI Disorders
- Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Documentation and Communication
- Preoperative Nursing
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Endocrine System
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Adult
- Basics of NCLEX
- Communication
- Understanding Society
- Immunological Disorders
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Studying
- Fetal Development
- Terminology
- Cognitive Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Tissues and Glands
- Vascular Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Microbiology
- Male Reproductive Disorders
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Oncology Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Trauma-Stress Disorders
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Basics of Chemistry
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Newborn Care
- Basics of Mathematics
- Statistics
- Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient
- Hematologic System
- Hematologic Disorders
- Developmental Considerations
- Digestive System
- Behavior
- Postpartum Care
- Basic
- Integumentary Disorders
- Metabolism
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- Concepts of Population Health
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Basics of Human Biology
- Postoperative Nursing
- Urinary Disorders
- Neurological Emergencies
- Prenatal Concepts
- Disorders of Thermoregulation
- Community Health Overview
- Neurological Trauma
- Renal Disorders
- Concepts of Mental Health
- Childhood Growth and Development
- Prenatal and Neonatal Growth and Development
- Postpartum Complications
- Concepts of Pharmacology
- Integumentary Important Points
- Emotions and Motivation
- Health & Stress
- Multisystem
- Proteins
- Renal and Urinary Disorders
- Developmental Theories
- Reproductive System
- Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Adulthood Growth and Development
- Psychological Emergencies
- Growth & Development
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Basics of Sociology
- Neurological
- Intelligence and Language
- Labor and Delivery
- Reading
- Oncologic Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Med Term Basic
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Infectious Disease Disorders
- Muscular System
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
- Learning Pharmacology
- Prioritization
- Somatoform Disorders
- Writing
- Pediatric
- Emergency Care of the Respiratory Patient
- Sensory System
- State of Consciousness