A client's most recent vital signs include heart rate 80 beats/minute and blood pressure 119/70 mm Hg. When the client reports dizziness after rising quickly, which finding should the nurse expect on reassessment?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Heart rate 100 beats/minute: A compensatory increase in heart rate (tachycardia) is expected in orthostatic hypotension. It helps maintain cerebral perfusion when blood pools in the lower extremities after standing quickly. B. Blood pressure 125/65 mm Hg: This BP shows a slight systolic increase, which is not typical after orthostatic stress. A decrease in BP, not an increase, would be expected if symptoms like dizziness are present. C. Heart rate 70 beats/minute: A decreased heart rate is not physiologically expected when someone experiences postural hypotension. Bradycardia would worsen cerebral perfusion and is inconsistent with dizziness. D. Blood pressure 115/70 mm Hg: This change is too minor to explain dizziness. In orthostatic hypotension, we usually expect a drop of ≥20 mm Hg systolic or ≥10 mm Hg diastolic after position change.