The nurse returns from the cardiac catheterization laboratory with a patient following insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter and assists in transferring the patient from the stretcher to the bed.Before obtaining a cardiac output,which action is most important for the nurse to complete?
A) Document a pulmonary artery catheter occlusion pressure.
B) Zero reference the transducer system at the phlebostatic axis.
C) Inflate the pulmonary artery catheter balloon with 1 mL air.
D) Inject 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline into the proximal port.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To ensure accurate measurement,zero referencing of the transducer system is a priority action after moving a patient and should be completed before obtaining readings.A pulmonary artery catheter occlusion pressure should be documented before obtaining a cardiac output,but without zero referencing the system following movement of a patient,the obtained value may be inaccurate.Inflating the pulmonary artery catheter balloon with 1 mL of air,while appropriate,is not a step required before obtaining a cardiac output.The nurse injects 5-10 mL of normal saline into the proximal port in order to measure the cardiac output; this is not a step done before obtaining the measurement.

The Nurse Returns from the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory with a Patient