Essentials of Critical Care Nursing
Hemodynamics Monitoring Complete
Exam Set Questions and Verified
Answers (solutions)
A patient has a blood pressure of 134/70 per blood pressure cuff
and a blood pressure of 90/50 per arterial line. The nurse should:
1. Discontinue the arterial line immediately.
2. Check the level of the transducer and relevel and rezero the
system.
3. Do nothing because this is a normal variation between the two
methods of measurement.
4. Begin the infusion of a dopamine drip. -
correct answer : 2
Rationale 1: The system needs to be assessed first.
Rationale 2: The placement of the transducer is essential for
accurate measurement. It must be level with the phlebostatic axis
in order for the monitoring system to be accurate.
Rationale 3: This is not a normal variation between the two
methods of measurement.
Rationale 4: More information and data are needed before
administering medication therapy.
The nurse is monitoring a patient's pulmonary vascular resistance.
Which value is the normal value?
,Essentials of Critical Care Nursing
Hemodynamics Monitoring Complete
Exam Set Questions and Verified
Answers (solutions)
1. 100-250 mm Hg
2. 10-250 dynes/sec/cm2
3. 400-800 mm Hg
4. 800-1,400 dynes/sec/cm2 -
correct answer : 2
Rationale 1: A measurement in mm Hg is used to measure pressure
only.
Rationale 2: The pulmonary system is a low-pressure system. The
pressure of the vascular system is measured in dynes/sec/cm2 due
to factors of flow, resistance, and time. This is the normal value for
pulmonary vascular resistance.
Rationale 3: A measurement in mm Hg is used to measure pressure
only.
Rationale 4: This is the value for SVR.
A patient's systemic vascular resistance (SVR) has dangerously
decreased. The nurse would expect to administer which
medications?
1. Furosemide (Lasix) and dopamine
2. Nitroprusside and furosemide (Lasix)
, Essentials of Critical Care Nursing
Hemodynamics Monitoring Complete
Exam Set Questions and Verified
Answers (solutions)
3. Dopamine and norepinephrine (Levophed)
4. Nitroglycerin and digoxin (Lanoxin) -
correct answer : 3
Rationale 1: Furosemide (Lasix) is a diuretic that reduces fluid
volume and is a mild vasodilator. The systemic vascular resistance
will be further decreased.
Rationale 2: Furosemide (Lasix) is a diuretic that reduces fluid
volume and is a mild vasodilator. The systemic vascular resistance
will be further decreased.
Rationale 3: If the SVR is low, there is massive peripheral
vasodilation. These meds will increase vasomotor tone as well as
increase blood pressure.
Rationale 4: Nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilator. The systemic
vascular resistance will be further decreased.
A patient has mixed venous oxygen saturation (SVO2) of 52% with
the following hemodynamic findings: CO of 4.8 L/min, SaO2 of 95%,
and an unchanged hemoglobin level. The nurse should assess the
patient for:
1. Excessive sedation
Hemodynamics Monitoring Complete
Exam Set Questions and Verified
Answers (solutions)
A patient has a blood pressure of 134/70 per blood pressure cuff
and a blood pressure of 90/50 per arterial line. The nurse should:
1. Discontinue the arterial line immediately.
2. Check the level of the transducer and relevel and rezero the
system.
3. Do nothing because this is a normal variation between the two
methods of measurement.
4. Begin the infusion of a dopamine drip. -
correct answer : 2
Rationale 1: The system needs to be assessed first.
Rationale 2: The placement of the transducer is essential for
accurate measurement. It must be level with the phlebostatic axis
in order for the monitoring system to be accurate.
Rationale 3: This is not a normal variation between the two
methods of measurement.
Rationale 4: More information and data are needed before
administering medication therapy.
The nurse is monitoring a patient's pulmonary vascular resistance.
Which value is the normal value?
,Essentials of Critical Care Nursing
Hemodynamics Monitoring Complete
Exam Set Questions and Verified
Answers (solutions)
1. 100-250 mm Hg
2. 10-250 dynes/sec/cm2
3. 400-800 mm Hg
4. 800-1,400 dynes/sec/cm2 -
correct answer : 2
Rationale 1: A measurement in mm Hg is used to measure pressure
only.
Rationale 2: The pulmonary system is a low-pressure system. The
pressure of the vascular system is measured in dynes/sec/cm2 due
to factors of flow, resistance, and time. This is the normal value for
pulmonary vascular resistance.
Rationale 3: A measurement in mm Hg is used to measure pressure
only.
Rationale 4: This is the value for SVR.
A patient's systemic vascular resistance (SVR) has dangerously
decreased. The nurse would expect to administer which
medications?
1. Furosemide (Lasix) and dopamine
2. Nitroprusside and furosemide (Lasix)
, Essentials of Critical Care Nursing
Hemodynamics Monitoring Complete
Exam Set Questions and Verified
Answers (solutions)
3. Dopamine and norepinephrine (Levophed)
4. Nitroglycerin and digoxin (Lanoxin) -
correct answer : 3
Rationale 1: Furosemide (Lasix) is a diuretic that reduces fluid
volume and is a mild vasodilator. The systemic vascular resistance
will be further decreased.
Rationale 2: Furosemide (Lasix) is a diuretic that reduces fluid
volume and is a mild vasodilator. The systemic vascular resistance
will be further decreased.
Rationale 3: If the SVR is low, there is massive peripheral
vasodilation. These meds will increase vasomotor tone as well as
increase blood pressure.
Rationale 4: Nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilator. The systemic
vascular resistance will be further decreased.
A patient has mixed venous oxygen saturation (SVO2) of 52% with
the following hemodynamic findings: CO of 4.8 L/min, SaO2 of 95%,
and an unchanged hemoglobin level. The nurse should assess the
patient for:
1. Excessive sedation
