The nurse is caring for a patient whose pulmonary artery wedge pressure is 16 mm Hg. Which one of the following interventions should the nurse anticipate?
1. administering a 500-cc normal saline fluid bolus
2. repeat the reading after recalibrating the system
3. administering a diuretic and a vasodilator
4. repeat the reading after repositioning the patient
3
Rationale: The normal pulmonary artery wedge pressure is 4 to 12 mm Hg. A reading of 16 mm Hg indicates high preload, and the nurse can anticipate administering medications to help reduce that preload, namely diuretics and afterload reducers. Administering a 500-cc normal saline fluid bolus would be expected if preload were low. Calibration of the system should always take place just before performing the reading. The patient should be placed in the supine position whenever completing a hemodynamic assessment. Repositioning the patient is unlikely to affect the reading.
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