BP meds

[Justanewbie, BSN, RN]

I'm scared to death to give BP meds....there I said it out loud...LOL

I've been a nurse for almost a year, and I still get a panicky feeling when administering them. I always check my pts BP first, but if its ever less than 120/60 I worry that the pt is going to tank. Yes I have taken pharmacology...yes I know these meds are needed for more than just control of HTN. I don't know why they scare me so bad. Any words of advice?

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Think about how they take them at home every day and no one monitors their BP :)

[Justanewbie, BSN, RN]

LOL!! I know. That makes me crazy.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Yeah the patients BP is 127/72 but the BP med is keeping it that way!

[NewEnglandRN16]

I work in a cardiac surgery floor and our parameters are low and I still get nervous when I give some meds.

[CardiacDork, MSN, RN]

Nothing a little phenyl push can't fix eh?

[BeenThere2012, ASN, RN]

PO anti-hypertension medications rarely cause a BP to suddenly​ tank. Often, some patients need up to 3 or 4 meds to keep BP under control. Also, if the patient has been on them for some time and has been stable, AND nothing additionally is going on to effect the BP like blood loss or dehydration, or recent additions of other meds that effect BP like pain meds and sedatives, they should be fine. You can always re-check the BP after the med would take effect. Plus, even if the BP drops too much, there are meds and/or fluids that can be given to raise it until the med effect is gone. I hope this helps.

[kaylee.]

I used to be kind of like that too, but now have gotten a grip on this fear because the po meds rarely make them tank. Even an SBP of 105 usually a few hrs after giving the drug the BP is still stable.

I do still hold off for a while sometimes, if the BP is low 100s and there are multiple, Ill give one wait and give the others. Sometimes I will hold and wait for the doc to come in or call for parameters.