Reference no: EM13180859

A case study titled about Gladys, an African-American Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with Hypertension. Answer and discuss questions 1 - 4 in essay format.

Gladys, an African- American Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with Hypertension Gladys is a widowed mother of four children aged 25, 21, 18, and 14, all of whom live with her in a low income area of Washington, D. C. She works as an LPN at a large hospital, just a few Metro stops away. Her income is barely sufficient to pay the mortgage on their home, utilities, transportation, and other expenses. Fortunately, she has medical insurance through her job for herself and her two youngest children. Her oldest son is currently unemployed and looking for work. Her second child, a daughter, is attending a local university on a scholarship. The 18- year- old boy is graduating from high school this year and thinking about joining the Marines. Her baby girl is in high school, and going through a terrible period of adolescence. Gladys loves her children, but worries about them and their futures. She sometimes feels overwhelmed by the responsibilities she carries all on her own. Gladys has had high blood pressure since she was in her twenties. Her mother and father both had uncontrolled hypertension. They had small strokes before her mother died from a massive stroke and her father from kidney failure. She is 63 inches tall and weighs 158 pounds. Despite taking medication to control her hypertension, it still measures above 140/ 90 most days. Gladys cooks breakfast and dinner at home every day. For lunch, she eats at the hospital cafeteria and the kids eat at school or in local fast food restaurants. There is a small grocery store a block from their home, and Gladys does most of her shopping there on her way home from work. Breakfast usually consists of sweetened cereal and milk during the week, but when she has week-ends off, she cooks large breakfasts of ham, eggs, bacon, and toast. For dinner, she generally cooks chicken or meat with potatoes or a casserole and canned vegetables. Everyone in the family likes soda with their meals, so there is always a big container of soft drinks on the table for the family meals.

1. What information have you gathered about Gladys? 
2. What nutrition related risk factors have you identified in her eating patterns? 
3. What is her BMI? What lifestyle factors are contributing to her hypertension? 
4. How would you counsel Gladys to help her reduce her blood pressure?