A nurse is admitting a patient who is at 38 weeks gestation and has severe pre-eclampsia. When assessing the patient, the nurse should expect which finding?

A. Headache is correct because severe pre-eclampsia is associated with hypertension, cerebral edema, and vascular changes, which often manifest as persistent, severe headaches. This is a classic symptom and one of the warning signs of possible progression to eclampsia, which may include seizures. B. Tachycardia is incorrect because patients with pre-eclampsia often have normal or slightly elevated heart rates, but tachycardia is not a hallmark sign. Bradycardia can sometimes occur if severe hypertension triggers reflex responses, but it is not expected as a defining feature. C. Diplopia is incorrect because visual disturbances in pre-eclampsia are usually blurred vision, scotomata (spots in vision), or transient visual changes, rather than double vision. While visual symptoms are common, diplopia specifically is less typical. D. Polyuria is incorrect because pre-eclampsia often causes oliguria, not polyuria, due to renal vasoconstriction and reduced glomerular filtration. Polyuria would be more indicative of conditions like gestational diabetes or diabetes insipidus, not pre-eclampsia