When to give hydralazine?

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Question... when do I actually give hydrazine? I know that in textbooks, they say that normal BP is 120/80...

And in my hospital, there is no parameter for when to give BP meds except for this simple statement: "For SBP > 100"... but even then, that parameter isn't very helpful.

So when should I give hydralazine to a patient? 20+ systolic points over their baseline SBP, maybe?

Thanks for any answer!

By nursing standards, the order written by the physicians must have parameters for giving and/or holding the medication. Typically, I have seen Hydralazine given if SBP is greater to or equal to 160. However, this must be indicated by the order parameters by the physician.

Hope this helps!

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Is it PRN or regular?

Specializes in MedSurg.

Are you asking when to hold a scheduled dose of Hydralazine, or when to give a PRN dose?

A lot of people are on PO Hydralazine TID routinely - this order should ideally have hold parameters.

As for a PRN dose, the order should state when to administer. (typically SBP > 160 or 180, depending on the patient and the physician's preference.) I've given PO and IVP Hydralazine PRN.

Is it PRN or regular?
Sorry guys, the hydralazine was a PRN dose
Specializes in Pedi.
Sorry guys, the hydralazine was a PRN dose

How was the order written? There should be specific parameters, as in "Hydralazine PRN BP greater than 140/100." So you give it when the BP is greater than the parameters specified.

Specializes in MedSurg.
Sorry guys, the hydralazine was a PRN dose

Then it is not acceptable as an order unless there is a REASON for the PRN. For example, the order "Ativan IV PRN" is not acceptable...as it could be PRN for anxiety, seizure, ETOH withdrawal, even nausea!

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