Key Concepts
Overview
Hemodynamic monitoring measures physiologic variables โ pressures, flows, and oxygenation โ that guide the management of critically ill cardiovascular patients. Key parameters include: mean arterial pressure (MAP, target โฅ 65 mmHg in shock), central venous pressure (CVP, reflects right atrial filling), pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP, reflects left atrial filling and preload), cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). The pulmonary artery catheter (Swan-Ganz catheter) directly measures most of these parameters. Understanding the relationship between these values allows the nurse to identify the type of shock and evaluate the response to interventions. On the exam, writers often pair stable-sounding options with unstable dataโnotice the mismatch before you commit. If the stem names a license or role, reread that line; scope errors are classic trap answers even when the clinical topic is familiar. Run a 60-second scan: breathing work and oxygenation, perfusion and end organs, neuro baseline, likely infection sources, and devices that can fail quietly. When two answers feel partly right, pick the one that reduces imminent harm and matches orders for the role you...