BP treatment

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Couple of days ago, went down to the ED to pick a new admission to the floor. After I got report from the nurse, went to introduce my self to the pt, ran one last set of vitals. Bp was 199/119, didn't feel comfortable bringing the patient up to the floor. Told the ED nurse to take care of the BP and I will be back to pick him up. Went back up and went to break for 30 min, right when I was walking to clock back in, another nurse was bringing the same pt to the floor. When I asked the team leader what they gave him, she said the nurse told her he took his own pills and that his Bp now is 134/75. I went right away to check on the pt and take a set of vitals and his BP now is 205/121, I called a rapid. When pt was asked what pills he took, he showed us a pills bottle that has nothing to do with BP.

My TL called the ED educator and told him what happened, his response was that BP is not treated in the ED based on research, treatement for BP in ED, they worry about syncopy, and that the only time they treat for bp is if the pt has a history of stroke. I don't know about anyone else, but thats a scary practice. I don't know if thats the same in every hospital, Does any of you know if they do or don't treat for high Bp in your ED? I asked the educator to bring us some of the research he s talking about that we adapted in our hospital and I am still waiting for him to get back to us.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Yes they do because we refuse to take them up with high bp so they fix it or the patient goes to ICU

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Specializes in Med Surg.

That's stupid. So they'd rather deal with the stroke vs the high BP? Our ED treats BP.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

But a high BP can cause the patient to stroke out regardless of history! I'm curious to know what your educator says...

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I just went to ED with my sister. BP 189/118. No history of it before but the ED or the floor (oncology) never gave her anything. It has been running high every since like about 152/90. No one seems to be worried about it. Luckily we are going to her family dr and see if he can give a diagnosis of hypertension and a med to take. She has brain mets and I worry so much about bleeds. Now I'm just making her watch her salt and rest untill I get there.

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