• Roger L Scott, Garnet E Cummings, and Christine Newburn-Cook.
• Health First Strathcona Primary Care Centre, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. roger.scott@albertahealthservices.ca
• J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2011 Sep 1; 23 (9): 493-500.

PurposeHypertension is a highly prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and its early identification and management results in reductions in morbidity and mortality. Our objectives were to: (1) determine the extent to which the emergency department (ED) has been used to screen patients for undiagnosed hypertension; (2) estimate the incidence of undiagnosed hypertension in the ED population; (3) identify and describe the programs for ED hypertension screening; and (4) determine the feasibility of ED-based hypertension screening programs and the requirements for further study.Data SourcesAn online search of databases (i.e., OVID Search, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science), unpublished sources (i.e., ProQuest Dissertation & Theses and Papers First), and grey literature (i.e., OpenSIGLE and the New York Academy of Grey Literature) was conducted. A manual search of the reference lists of relevant studies was also completed.ConclusionHypertension screening in the ED is feasible. Individuals with elevated blood pressure (BP) in the ED should be referred for follow-up. Further study is needed to develop an ED screening tool that is predictive of persistently elevated BP in undiagnosed individuals.Implications For PracticeNurse practitioners in the ED should identify patients with elevated BP, provide hypertension education, and ensure appropriate intervention and referral.©2011 The Author(s) Journal compilation ©2011 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

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