Ace the Certified Medical-Surgical RN Exam 2025 – Power Up Your Nursing Game!

Antihypertensives are commonly used to manage hypertension in surgical patients because they specifically target and lower blood pressure, which is crucial in the perioperative setting. Maintaining optimal blood pressure is vital for preventing complications such as cardiac events, renal failure, or excessive bleeding during and after surgery. These medications can include several subclasses, such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics, each with unique mechanisms to effectively lower blood pressure.

In contrast, analgesics primarily relieve pain, antibiotics treat or prevent infections, and anticoagulants prevent blood clot formation. While these other classes of medications play essential roles in surgical settings, they do not directly address hypertension management, which is the focus of the question. Therefore, the use of antihypertensives is both appropriate and necessary for ensuring surgical patients maintain stable blood pressure throughout their care.