Nursing assessments for abnormal CVP

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I was wondering if someone could help me out with a question about CVP. I am a nursing student. Can someone please tell me what nursing assessments should be done to assess for a high or low CVP? I understand that a high pressure indicates fluid overload or HF, and a low value may indicate low volume or dehydration. All I am really coming up with is I & O, lung sounds, respirations, jvd and edema in extremities. I know there has to be more. Thank you.

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The patient will need a central line placed and a transducer attached to measure CVP. You'll need it and there is no shortcut or alternative to its measure. It should be between 8-12 mm HG

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Specializes in critical care.

Those are the common causes people think of when interpreting CVP, but try to think of some more!

Also, I am starting to see some docs ultrasound the abdominal aorta as an alternative to transducing a CVP. This was lucky for my patient the other day, as the doc just happened to catch a massive pericardial effusion (over a liter) while assessing the patient's volume status!

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Specializes in ICU.

Our docs/NPs ultrasound the IVC to monitor fluid status. Are you sure that's not what your's are doing?

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Specializes in critical care.

Carrig RN, good call; that is what I meant. It actually popped into my insomniac thoughts as I lay in bed after posting.... "Oh crap, IVC!" haha.

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