Hemodynamics Practice Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
The nurse is caring for a 100-kg patient being monitored with a
pulmonary artery catheter. The nurse assesses a blood pressure of
90/60 mm Hg, heart rate 110 beats/min, respirations 36/min,
oxygen saturation of 89% on 3 L of oxygen via nasal cannula.
Bilateral crackles are audible upon auscultation. Which
hemodynamic value requires immediate action by the nurse?
a. Cardiac index (CI) of 1.2 L/min/m3
b.Cardiac output (CO) of 4 L/min
c.Pulmonary vascular resistance
(PVR) of 80 dynes/sec/cm-
d.Sys -
correct answer ✅A. Cardiac index (CI) of 1.2 L/min/m3
A cardiac index of 1.2 L/min/m3 combined with the identified
clinical assessment findings indicate a low cardiac output with fluid
overload (bilateral crackles) requiring intervention. The remaining
hemodynamic values are within normal limits: cardiac output of 4
L/min; pulmonary vascular resistance of 80 dynes/sec/cm-5; and
the systemic vascular resistance of 1800 dynes/sec/cm-5.
,Hemodynamics Practice Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
2. While caring for a patient with a small bowel obstruction, the
nurse assesses a pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) of 1
mm Hg and hourly urine output of 5 mL. The nurse anticipates
which therapeutic intervention?
a.Diuretics
b.Intravenous fluids
c.Negative inotropic agents
d.Vasopressors -
correct answer ✅b. Intravenous fluids
Low pulmonary artery occlusion pressures usually indicate volume
depletion, so intravenous fluids would be indicated. Administration
of diuretics would worsen the patient's volume status. Negative
inotropes would not improve the patient's volume status.
Vasopressors will increase blood pressure but are contraindicated in
a low volume state.
3. The nursing is caring for a patient who has had an arterial line
inserted. To reduce the risk of complications, what is the priority
nursing intervention?
,Hemodynamics Practice Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
a.Apply a pressure dressing to the insertion site.
b.Ensure all tubing connections are tightened.
c.Obtain a portable x-ray to confirm placement.
d.Restrain the affected extremity for 24 hours. -
correct answer ✅b. Ensure all tubing connections are tightened.
Loose connections in hemodynamic monitoring tubing can lead to
hemorrhage, a major complication of arterial pressure monitoring.
Application of a pressure dressing is required only upon arterial line
removal. Blood return is adequate confirmation of arterial line
placement; x-ray studies are not performed to confirm arterial line
placement. Neutral positioning of the extremity and use of an arm
board, without limb restraint, is the standard of care.
While caring for a patient with a pulmonary artery catheter, the
nurse notes the pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) to be
significantly higher than previously recorded values. The nurse
assesses respirations to be unlabored at 16 breaths/min, oxygen
, Hemodynamics Practice Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
saturation of 98% on 3 L of oxygen via nasal cannula, and lungs
clear to auscultation bilaterally. What is the priority nursing action?
a. Increase supplemental oxygen and notify respiratory therapy.
b. Notify the physician immediately of t -
correct answer ✅d. Zero reference and level the catheter at the
phlebostatic axis.
A hemodynamic value not supported by clinical assessment should
be treated as questionable. To ensure the accuracy of
hemodynamic readings, the catheter transducer system must be
leveled at the phlebostatic axis and zero referenced. In this
example, the catheter transducer system may be lower than the
phlebostatic axis, resulting in erroneously higher pressures. Clinical
manifestations do not support increasing supplemental oxygen.
Clinical manifestations do not warrant physician intervention;
aberrant values should be investigated further. An aberrant value
warrants further investigation, which includes zero referencing and
checking the level as an initial measure. A chest x-ray study is not
warranted at this time.
Questions and Answers 2026
The nurse is caring for a 100-kg patient being monitored with a
pulmonary artery catheter. The nurse assesses a blood pressure of
90/60 mm Hg, heart rate 110 beats/min, respirations 36/min,
oxygen saturation of 89% on 3 L of oxygen via nasal cannula.
Bilateral crackles are audible upon auscultation. Which
hemodynamic value requires immediate action by the nurse?
a. Cardiac index (CI) of 1.2 L/min/m3
b.Cardiac output (CO) of 4 L/min
c.Pulmonary vascular resistance
(PVR) of 80 dynes/sec/cm-
d.Sys -
correct answer ✅A. Cardiac index (CI) of 1.2 L/min/m3
A cardiac index of 1.2 L/min/m3 combined with the identified
clinical assessment findings indicate a low cardiac output with fluid
overload (bilateral crackles) requiring intervention. The remaining
hemodynamic values are within normal limits: cardiac output of 4
L/min; pulmonary vascular resistance of 80 dynes/sec/cm-5; and
the systemic vascular resistance of 1800 dynes/sec/cm-5.
,Hemodynamics Practice Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
2. While caring for a patient with a small bowel obstruction, the
nurse assesses a pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) of 1
mm Hg and hourly urine output of 5 mL. The nurse anticipates
which therapeutic intervention?
a.Diuretics
b.Intravenous fluids
c.Negative inotropic agents
d.Vasopressors -
correct answer ✅b. Intravenous fluids
Low pulmonary artery occlusion pressures usually indicate volume
depletion, so intravenous fluids would be indicated. Administration
of diuretics would worsen the patient's volume status. Negative
inotropes would not improve the patient's volume status.
Vasopressors will increase blood pressure but are contraindicated in
a low volume state.
3. The nursing is caring for a patient who has had an arterial line
inserted. To reduce the risk of complications, what is the priority
nursing intervention?
,Hemodynamics Practice Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
a.Apply a pressure dressing to the insertion site.
b.Ensure all tubing connections are tightened.
c.Obtain a portable x-ray to confirm placement.
d.Restrain the affected extremity for 24 hours. -
correct answer ✅b. Ensure all tubing connections are tightened.
Loose connections in hemodynamic monitoring tubing can lead to
hemorrhage, a major complication of arterial pressure monitoring.
Application of a pressure dressing is required only upon arterial line
removal. Blood return is adequate confirmation of arterial line
placement; x-ray studies are not performed to confirm arterial line
placement. Neutral positioning of the extremity and use of an arm
board, without limb restraint, is the standard of care.
While caring for a patient with a pulmonary artery catheter, the
nurse notes the pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) to be
significantly higher than previously recorded values. The nurse
assesses respirations to be unlabored at 16 breaths/min, oxygen
, Hemodynamics Practice Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
saturation of 98% on 3 L of oxygen via nasal cannula, and lungs
clear to auscultation bilaterally. What is the priority nursing action?
a. Increase supplemental oxygen and notify respiratory therapy.
b. Notify the physician immediately of t -
correct answer ✅d. Zero reference and level the catheter at the
phlebostatic axis.
A hemodynamic value not supported by clinical assessment should
be treated as questionable. To ensure the accuracy of
hemodynamic readings, the catheter transducer system must be
leveled at the phlebostatic axis and zero referenced. In this
example, the catheter transducer system may be lower than the
phlebostatic axis, resulting in erroneously higher pressures. Clinical
manifestations do not support increasing supplemental oxygen.
Clinical manifestations do not warrant physician intervention;
aberrant values should be investigated further. An aberrant value
warrants further investigation, which includes zero referencing and
checking the level as an initial measure. A chest x-ray study is not
warranted at this time.
