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Emergency Nursing Policy and Hypertension Awareness: an Integrative Review of the Literature

  • Hypertension and Emergency Medicine (T Rainer and P Levy, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This study aims to systematically examine the literature on nursing policy and hypertension (HTN) awareness in the emergency department (ED).

Recent Findings

The electronic databases searched included Pubmed, OVID, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Studies were limited by adult, English language, and peer-reviewed articles published in the USA between the years 2015 and 2018. Our literature search allowed for quantitative and qualitative studies with a focus on nursing policy and adult patients treated in the ED who have HTN or elevated BP. Eight quantitative studies were retained for review and appraisal, and were rated to be of moderate quality evidence. Findings were summarized under three themes: BP reassessment, referral, and practice.

Summary

The role of ED nurses in the screening and referral of this patient population remains largely uncharacterized. More robust trials are critically needed to improve practice and outcomes for patients with uncontrolled HTN. Clinical trials are needed to examine the efficacy of ED-based interventions on BP control, using multi-disciplinary samples of ED clinicians.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Funding

Ms. Crystal Bennett is supported by the Mount Sinai Center for Nursing Research & Innovation and Dr. Siri Shastry is supported by an institutional training grant (T32HL129974-01) (PI: Dr. Lynne Richardson), from the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

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Correspondence to Kimberly Souffront.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Hypertension and Emergency Medicine

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Souffront, K., Shastry, S., Bennett, C. et al. Emergency Nursing Policy and Hypertension Awareness: an Integrative Review of the Literature. Curr Hypertens Rep 21, 55 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-019-0953-8

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