G5 - Preventing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Via Expanded Scope of Nursing Practice As First Responder in Hypertensive Crisis of Preeclampsia

Hypertensive crisis during an episode of preeclampsia, eclampsia or any of it’s variants present a life threatening and/or life altering emergency. Nurses are frequently first to identify blood pressure aberrations and to seek the right care for their patients. Recent reports of cerebral vascular accidents in women with preeclampsia who have relatively “normal” or slightly elevated systolic and diastolic pressures are changing long held beliefs on when antihypertensive agents should be administered. Using case studies, this presentation presents recommended order sets and clinical guidelines that all OB providers may use when treating hypertensive crisis from preeclampsia. Algorithms that assist in selection of a specific first-line agent, options for second-line agents, and new recommendations for a rescue antihypertensive medications are presented.