The nurse suspects the patient has increased afterload. Which piece of equipment should the nurse obtain to determine the presence of this condition?

A) Pulse oximeter
B) Oxygen cannula
C) Blood pressure cuff
D) Yankauer suction tip catheter

A blood pressure cuff is needed. The diastolic aortic pressure is a good clinical measure of afterload. Afterload is the resistance to left ventricular ejection. In hypertension the afterload increases, making cardiac workload also increase. A pulse oximeter is used to monitor the level of arterial oxygen saturation; it will not help determine increased afterload. While an oxygen cannula may be needed to help decrease the effects of increased afterload, it will not help determine the presence of afterload. A Yankauer suction tip catheter is used to suction the oral cavity.