Preeclampsia is a condition characterized by high blood pressure and excess protein content in the urine during the fifth month of pregnancy. It is also known as pregnancy induced hypertension.

Proper nursing management of preeclampsia involves understanding the signs and symptoms of its two types—mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia. Mild preeclampsia happens when a pregnant woman records a 140/90 blood pressure. One visible sign of preeclampsia is the gradual weight gain of 2 lbs every week on the second trimester of the pregnancy and 1 lb per week during the third trimester.

Severe preeclampsia can be determined by a blood pressure reading of 160/110. This will be prevented if proper nursing management of preeclampsia during its mild stage is employed. A pregnant woman who has severe preeclampsia experiences cerebral or visual disturbances among other signs and symptoms such as enema of the face, upper extremities as well as pulmonary enema.

When severe preeclampsia is agitated, it will develop into eclampsia wherein the patient is already experiencing seizures. To prevent this from happening, nursing management of preeclampsia has to be performed correctly. This can be done by monitoring and promoting the resolution of the complications thereupon. Nursing management of preeclampsia requires accurate and regular monitoring of the patient’s vital signs.

The reason behind such kind of nursing management of preeclampsia is to minimize the external factors that contribute to the condition through the means of rest and relaxation. No other medication is necessary as much as possible since the patient you are dealing with is pregnant.

Other factors that require monitoring is the measure of urine output, protein level and specific gravity, as well as the daily weight of the patient.