Hypertension is a silent disease that may result in serious health problems. Providing patient education may increase knowledge about hypertension and improve self care behaviors of hypertension patients. A formal patient focused hypertension education program that focuses on risk factors for the hypertensive patient may be more effective in improving knowledge and self-care behaviors for hypertension. The purpose of this study is to determine if a formal patient-centered education program that focuses on risk factors for hypertension and self care behaviors is more effective in improving knowledge of hypertension and self-care behaviors than information included in the traditional hospital discharge process. The Orem Self Care Theory will be the framework for the quasi-experimental study. The population will include patients admitted to a local Midwest hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis of hypertension over a 6 month period. The anticipated sample will be 100 patients, 50 in each group alternately assigned to either the traditional teaching plan or the focused self-care teaching program. A researcher designed knowledge test will be given to each.