[Systemic arterial hypertension: clinical aspects and aspects of care]

This article is a literature review about the concepts of systemic arterial hypertension, it's incidence, the diagnostic methods and used treatments. It emphasizing the nurse's role in the patients care, based on the authors' nursing practice at Hospital de Clínicas Porto Alegre. The authors describe measures to prevent and promote health, as well as advanced actions during hypertension crisis and emergency cases.