The role of nurses and nurse practitioners in hypertension management

The management of hypertension requires longterm, effective collaboration among healthcare professionals and patients. The benefits of nurses participating in or leading hypertension care has been demonstrated in a wide variety of studies from uncontrolled communitybased and clinic-based surveys to randomized multisite clinical trials, and in studies in developing as well as developed countries. An interdisciplinary team approach to hypertension care that includes nurses has consistently produced effective control of hypertension in clinical trials and many practice settings. The roles of the nurse and nurse practitioner in hypertension management include all aspects of hypertension management: detection, referral, and follow-up; medication management; patient education, counseling, and skill building; coordination of care; and clinic or office management.