Your responsibility in hemodynamic monitoring is to position the transducer at the level of the right atrium, level central venous pressure (CVP) of the pulmonary artery catheter transducer into this point during each shift and before each measurement, and maintain patency of the catheter with a constant small amount of fluid delivered under pressure.
Assess clients for decreased cardiac output, and identify cardiac rhythm strip abnormalities, such as sinus bradycardia, premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, and fibrillation.
Monitor and maintain arterial lines, and connect and maintain pacing devices, including pacemakers, biventricular pacemakers, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators. You should also be able to initiate, maintain, and evaluate telemetry monitoring.
In addition to monitoring pacemakers and defibrillators, you should be able to intervene to improve client cardiovascular status through modifying an activity schedule and initiating a protocol to manage cardiac arrhythmias.
You should be able to provide care for clients with vascular access for hemodialysis, such as via an arteriovenous shunt, a fistula, or a graft.
Finally, apply your knowledge of pathophysiology to interventions in response to client abnormal hemodynamics, and provide clients with strategies to manage decreased cardiac output, such as frequent rest periods and limiting activities.