Care essential 6
Prevent hemodynamic instability.
Monitor the patient’s blood pressure every 2 to 4 hours, especially after ventilator settings are changed or adjusted. Mechanical ventilation causes thoracic-cavity pressure to rise on inspiration, which puts pressure on blood vessels and may reduce blood flow to the heart; as a
result, blood pressure may drop. To maintain hemodynamic stability, you may need to increase I.V. fluids or administer a drug such as dopamine or norepinephrine, if ordered.