Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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J Emerg Nurs
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Hypertension is often undiagnosed, untreated, undertreated, and poorly controlled. Many patients use the emergency department as their primary source of health care, and the emergency department represents an opportunity to identify undiagnosed hypertension. We sought to (1) identify the prevalence of elevated blood pressures in low-acuity patients and (2) describe the existing practice of reassessment, treatment, and referral of abnormal vital signs in these patients. ⋯ Our data suggest that important opportunities for education and follow-up of hypertension are being missed.