NURSING CARE FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF GESTATIONAL HYPERTENSIVE SYNDROME

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational Hypertensive Syndrome (GHS) is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, requiring early diagnosis to prevent severe complications. In this context, nursing care plays a central role in surveillance, blood pressure monitoring, and health education during prenatal follow-up. Methods: This integrative literature review was guided by the question: “How does nursing care contribute to the early detection of Gestational Hypertensive Syndrome?” The search was conducted in the SciELO, LILACS, BVS, PubMed, and Redalyc databases using descriptors in Portuguese, English, and Spanish combined with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT). Inclusion criteria comprised studies published between 2021 and 2025, freely available in full text in any of the three languages, and addressing nursing actions related to early diagnosis of GHS. Exclusion criteria removed duplicated records, opinion articles, studies with insufficient methodological rigor, restricted-access materials, and publications with na exclusively medical focus. Results: Of the 132 records identified, 6 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final synthesis. The selected studies emphasized the decisive role of nursing in early identification of GHS, highlighting interventions such as systematic blood pressure monitoring, use of clinical protocols, health education, risk-factor identification, and preventive actions. Nursing practices proved essential in reducing progression to severe conditions such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, directly improving maternal and fetal outcomes. Conclusion: The review showed that nursing care is essential for the early diagnosis of Gestational Hypertensive Syndrome. Interventions such as systematic blood pressure monitoring, health education, risk assessment, and the use of clinical protocols support the early recognition of warning signs. The findings indicate that nursing actions help prevent maternal–fetal complications. Thus, strengthening nursing involvement in prenatal care is crucial to ensuring maternal safety.