What actually changed in the newest hypertension guidelines—and what should nurse practitioners be doing differently in clinic?
In this episode, Liz Rohr, MSN, FNP-BC, sits down with Dr. Jordy Cohen, nephrologist, hypertension specialist, researcher, and member of the hypertension guideline writing committee, to break down the updates that matter most for primary care.
Rather than reviewing every recommendation, this conversation focuses on the clinical decisions that can make the biggest difference in practice. Dr. Cohen shares practical guidance on medication selection, single-pill combination therapy, resistant hypertension, screening for primary aldosteronism, and evaluating younger patients with elevated blood pressure. The discussion also covers the PREVENT risk calculator, home blood pressure monitoring, white coat hypertension, and common treatment mistakes that can be avoided in everyday clinical practice.
Whether you're learning hypertension management for the first time or updating your approach based on the latest evidence, this episode offers practical strategies you can apply immediately in primary care.
00:00 – Meet Dr. Jordy Cohen and the new hypertension guidelines
02:27 – Biggest changes in the updated guidelines
04:00 – The PREVENT risk calculator explained
07:30 – Managing hypertension in younger adults
11:40 – Secondary hypertension workup and screening pearls
15:20 – Resistant hypertension: What specialists wish primary care would do first
19:20 – When to start one medication vs. combination therapy
22:10 – Choosing first-line antihypertensive medications
25:40 – Hydrochlorothiazide vs. chlorthalidone vs. indapamide
29:45 – Primary aldosteronism: Who should be screened?
36:00 – Why PRN clonidine should be avoided in severe asymptomatic hypertension
41:10 – Home blood pressure monitoring, white coat hypertension, and validated cuffs
49:40 – Microalbuminuria and practical pearls for primary care
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For a full transcript and conversation chapters, visit the blog https://www.realworldnp.com/blog/HTN-updates-2026.
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