What assessment finding indicates that clonidine (Catapres) has achieved its desired effect?

Clonidine is an antihypertensive medication primarily used to manage high blood pressure. The desired effect of clonidine is to lower the blood pressure to a safer range. In the context of the question, a significant decrease in blood pressure from 180/120 mmHg to 140/70 mmHg illustrates a successful therapeutic response to the medication. This reduction indicates that clonidine is effectively reducing peripheral vascular resistance and allowing for better regulation of blood pressure, which is the primary therapeutic goal when administering this drug.

While the other assessment findings might indicate improvements in the client's overall health or the management of other conditions, they do not directly relate to the primary pharmacological effect of clonidine in hypertension management. Thus, the marked change in blood pressure is the most pertinent indicator of clonidine's effectiveness in this scenario.