The nurse knows that a medication has the side effect of orthostatic hypotension. Which assessment should the nurse make before administering the medication?

A. Blood pressure. The nurse should assess the client’s blood pressure both while lying down and standing to check for any signs of orthostatic hypotension, which is a drop in blood pressure upon standing. B. Apical heart rate. While heart rate is important, it is not directly related to the side effect of orthostatic hypotension. C. Pulse pressure. Pulse pressure (the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure) is not the primary assessment when checking for orthostatic hypotension. D. Level of consciousness. Although important for overall assessment, the primary focus for orthostatic hypotension is blood pressure.