Arterial Blood Pressure Monitoring

                                                          Arterial blood pressure set-up

                                          What an arterial waveform should look like.

                                               Patient with arterial line to radial artery

Hello class,
Today we will discuss arterial blood pressure monitoring. There are many different hemodynamic monitoring tools that are used in the intensive care unit (ICU), and one of the pieces of equipment that every ICU nurse must be familiar with is an arterial blood pressure line. Arterial blood pressure (ABP) is a hemodynamic index that guides the clinician to provide therapeutic interventions in critically ill patients (Mcghee & Bridges, 2002).
There are a few very important uses for an arterial line including:
   1- Blood pressure monitoring
   2- Arterial blood sampling
   3- Multiple blood draws
Nursing responsibilities inlude:
   1- Maintaining patency: The nurse sets up the line, zeroes the line, and levels it to patient's midaxillary line.
   2- Monitoing B/P and compare with manual B/P.
   3- Ensure waveform is appropriate and displayed on the monitor.
   4- Maintains alarm limits and ensures that they are audible.
   5- Monitors arterial site and maintains dressing.
   6- Documents appropriately.
When caring for a patient with an arterial line, it is important to listen for alarms, monitor for signs and symptoms of infection, and report any adverse signs to the doctor. When assisting the doctor with insertion, it is important to maintain sterility and have all equipment readily available. Having an arterial line is very beneficial but as soon as it is no longer needed, it should be removed in order to prevent infection.
If anyone has any questions, post them and I will answer as soon as possible.
Thank you class and see you soon.

Frances

                                                                    References
Critical care trauma centre. (2010). London Health Sciences Centre. Retrieved from http://www.lhsc.on.ca/Health_Professionals/CCTC/standards/artline.htm

Mcghee, B. H. & Bridges, E. J. (2002). Monitoring arterial blood pressure: What you may not know. Critical Care Nurse. Retrieved from http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/content/22/2/60.full.pdf+html