After obtaining an arterial blood sample from an arterial line, you would do all of the following except:
A) flush the line and stopcock with the heparinized intravenous solution.
B) aspirate at least 5 ml of fluid or blood (dead space or waste).
C) confirm stopcock port open to intravenous bag solution and catheter.
D) confirm undamped pulse pressure waveform on monitor.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Aspirating at least 5 ml of fluid or blood is typically done before obtaining the sample to clear the dead space of any diluted or clotted blood, not after obtaining the sample. The steps after obtaining a sample usually involve flushing the line to ensure patency and prevent clotting, confirming the system is correctly set up for continuous monitoring, and ensuring the waveform on the monitor is accurate, indicating the arterial line is functioning properly.

After Obtaining an Arterial Blood Sample from an Arterial Line