Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

Purpose & Scope

  • The goal of this document is to provide nurses with recommendations, based on the best available evidence, related to nursing interventions for high blood pressure detection, client assessment and development of a collaborative treatment plan, promotion of adherence and ongoing follow-up.
  • Nurses working in partnership with the interdisciplinary health care team, clients and their families, have an important role in detection and management of hypertension. This guideline focuses on:
  • the care of adults 18 years of age and older (including the older adult over 80);
  • the detection of high blood pressure;
  • nursing assessment and interventions for those who have a diagnosis of hypertension.
  • This guideline does not address hypertension in adults related to: pregnancy, transient hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, endocrine hypertension, or hypertension related to secondary causes (i.e., renal disease).
  • This guideline contains recommendations for Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses on best nursing practices in the care of adults with hypertension. It is intended for nurses who are not necessarily experts in management of hypertension, who work in a variety of practice settings, including both primary care and secondary prevention.
  • It is acknowledged that the individual competencies of nurses varies between nurses and across categories of nursing professionals and are based on knowledge, skills, attitudes, critical analysis and decision making which are enhanced over time by experience and education. It is expected that individual nurses will perform only those aspects of hypertension management for which they have received appropriate education and experience and that they will seek appropriate consultation in instances where the client’s care needs surpass their ability to act independently.
Chronic Disease
Nursing Management of Hypertension
Background Information