Hypertension

Setting: Emergency Department

Patient

You are a 71 year old woman who lives alone. You have come to the emergency hospital because you have just
taken your blood pressure on a recently purchased home automatic blood pressure monitor. You are very
alarmed because the systolic pressure was 210 and the diastolic pressure was 110. You checked twice. You
were diagnosed with hypertension last year but ceased taking medication a few months ago after it returned to
a normal range, You dont like going to the doctor so decided to get the blood pressure monitoring equipment
so you could check it yourself occasionally. You dont like hospitals or any fuss but are scared youll have a
stroke.

Task

Explain to the nurse that you are alarmed by the readings you got on your blood pressure monitor and that
you are afraid youll have a stroke

Admit that you may have been premature in ceasing the blood pressure medication and that you would like to
start the medication again now

Say that you live alone but are very independent and prefer to manage things yourself

Resist admission. You just want to be given the appropriate medication and then go home

__________________________________________________________________

Setting: Emergency Department

Nurse

A 71 year old woman has come into Emergency because she has taken her blood pressure on her home
monitor and registered a systolic pressure of 210 and a diastolic pressure of 110. You have confirmed that these
reading are correct. The patient admits to being diagnosed with hypertension a year ago but is not taking
medication now. She lives alone. The registrar who saw the patient says she will need to be admitted for
further investigation.

Task

Ask why she decided to cease taking her medication

Explain why she must be admitted for treatment and further investigation

Acknowledge her desire for independence but endeavour to convince her that in this case hospitalization is
the safest and best option.
Setting: Emergency Department

Nurse

A 71 year old woman has come into Emergency because she has taken her blood pressure on her home
monitor and registered a systolic pressure of 210 and a diastolic pressure of 110. You have confirmed that these
reading are correct. The patient admits to being diagnosed with hypertension a year ago but is not taking
medication now. She lives alone. The registrar who saw the patient says she will need to be admitted for
further investigation.

Ask why she decided to cease taking her medication

Explain why she must be admitted for treatment and further investigation

Acknowledge her desire for independence but endeavour to convince her that in this case hospitalization is
the safest and best option.

Setting: Emergency Department

Nurse

A 71 year old woman has come into Emergency because she has taken her blood pressure on her home
monitor and registered a systolic pressure of 210 and a diastolic pressure of 110. You have confirmed that these
reading are correct. The patient admits to being diagnosed with hypertension a year ago but is not taking
medication now. She lives alone. The registrar who saw the patient says she will need to be admitted for
further investigation.

Ask why she decided to cease taking her medication

Explain why she must be admitted for treatment and further investigation

Acknowledge her desire for independence but endeavour to convince her that in this case hospitalization is
the safest and best option.

Setting: Emergency Department

Nurse

A 71 year old woman has come into Emergency because she has taken her blood pressure on her home
monitor and registered a systolic pressure of 210 and a diastolic pressure of 110. You have confirmed that these
reading are correct. The patient admits to being diagnosed with hypertension a year ago but is not taking
medication now. She lives alone. The registrar who saw the patient says she will need to be admitted for
further investigation.

Ask why she decided to cease taking her medication

Explain why she must be admitted for treatment and further investigation

Acknowledge her desire for independence but endeavour to convince her that in this case hospitalization is
the safest and best option.