American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the AACN Certification Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the recommended blood pressure goal for hypertensive patients?

120/80
130/80
140/90
150/95

The correct answer is: 130/80

The recommended blood pressure goal for hypertensive patients is generally set at 130/80 mm Hg. This target is aligned with guidelines established by various health organizations, including the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Maintaining blood pressure at or below this level is crucial for reducing the risks associated with hypertension, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Setting the goal at 130/80 allows for a balance between effectively managing blood pressure and minimizing the risk of potential side effects from overly aggressive treatment. For many individuals, particularly older adults or those with certain comorbidities, stricter targets, such as 120/80 mm Hg, could increase the risk of adverse outcomes like falls or cardiovascular events due to excessive lowering of blood pressure. The values above 130/80, like 140/90 or 150/95, typically represent stages of hypertension rather than goals for treatment, indicating a need for lifestyle modifications and possibly medication adjustment. Therefore, aiming for a target of 130/80 mm Hg is both a practical and effective goal for the management of hypertension in most patients.