A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing a hypertensive crisis. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect?

Rationale: A. Skin cool to touch: Cool skin is more commonly associated with shock states or severe peripheral vasoconstriction, not with a hypertensive crisis. In hypertensive crisis, the client is more likely to have warm skin due to increased circulation from elevated blood pressure. B. Jugular vein distention: While jugular vein distention can occur in right-sided heart failure or severe fluid overload, it is not a hallmark manifestation of hypertensive crisis. The acute issue in hypertensive crisis is extreme elevation in blood pressure with end-organ effects. C. Headache: Severe headache is a common and classic symptom of hypertensive crisis due to sudden, extreme elevations in blood pressure causing increased ICP and cerebral vessel stress. It often signals an urgent need for BP control to prevent complications such as stroke. D. Weak peripheral pulses: Weak pulses are more often associated with low cardiac output or severe arterial obstruction. In hypertensive crisis, peripheral pulses are typically bounding and strong because of the elevated systemic vascular resistance.