Art Lines

[bluemoose21]

I was just wondering about zeroing arterial lines. Do ya'lls hospital have standard protocols for zeroing the arterial lines or do they not want them to be zeroed. the CCU that I am in requires art lines to be zeroed and compared to cuff pressure. Another Level 1 trauma center across town does not want there nurses to zero there art lines or even compare to a cuff pressure. just wondering what yalls take was.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the answers everyone. I love this BB and the resources it gives us.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

... Gee thanks Gwenith. I had no idea why we needed to zero the art line. I thought it was mainly for aesthetics...

I did not mean to sound condescending but it has been my sad experience that an awful lot of nurses know the "what to do" and not neccessarily the "why".

[heart queen]

Our policy is that on admit, bp from both arms is taken, if >15mm hg. the primary determines which extremity is to be used for all future bp's.

Also, the Aline must be with in 15 of cuff pressure, or the aline can't be used for treatment. CVICU is different. the surgeons prefer the aline, using RTF, return to flow with a cuff on the arm with the line, drips are titrated more on the RTF than cuff.

Creates a mess if the RTF and cuff pressures were off to begin with and you either dc or loose your aline. (usually have order entered for "add 10 SBP"), which some forget to do..

We zero each shift, and what everyone else is saying.

Why have an Aline if you can't ensure accuracy of #'s?

[Gldngrl]

A-lines are great for freq labs, esp q 1 hr glucose!

[blueinplaid]

In the PICU, we rezero and take a cuff pressure of the opposite extremity if possible at the beginning of the shift. Each intensivist has his or her own thoughts on the cuff, but most seem to agree that the MAP is whats important; if the MAP are within points of each other, then it is a "confirmed" reading.

[critcarenurse16]

I think we have stumbled onto a world wide phenomenon here:D

Please think - why do we zero???

It is to correct for changes in atmospheric pressure. Since arterial pressures are usually monitored with a fluid system (unless you are using a fibreoptic system like Camino) then change in atmospheric pressure will affect the accuracy of the system. What we should be doing is watching the weather report - can you imagine it? Cyclone Harvey is coming - quick re-zero your art lines:roll It is easier just to do them routinely once a shift.

Absolutely! (love the cyclone bit-LOL):rotfl: