The Nurse has many clinical responsibilities when caring for a patient with hemodynamic monitoring
- Assist with insertion and removal of invasive hemodynamic lines.
- Monitor heart rate and rhythm.
- Zero and calibrate equipment every 4 to 12 hours, as appropriate, with transducer at the level of the right atrium to ensure accuracy of waveform.
- Monitor blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean), central venous/right atrial pressure, pulmonary artery pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean), and pulmonary capillary/artery wedge pressure.
- Monitor hemodynamic waveforms for changes in cardiovascular function.
- Compare hemodynamic parameters with other clinical signs and symptoms.
- Monitor pulmonary artery and systemic arterial waveforms; if dampening occurs, check tubing for kinks or air bubbles, check connections.
- Document pulmonary artery and systemic arterial waveforms.
- Monitor peripheral perfusion distal to catheter insertion site every 4 hours or as appropriate.
- Refrain from inflating balloon more frequently than every 1 to 2 hours, or as appropriate.
- Maintain sterility of ports.
- Perform sterile dressing changes and site care, as appropriate.
- Inspect insertion site for signs of bleeding or infection.
- Change IV solution and tubing every 24 to 96 hours, based on protocol.
- Keep hemodynamic monitoring alarms ON.