Technological supports such as ventilators and continuous renal replacement, and pharmacological supports such as vasopressors and sedatives are commonly encountered in the care of the critically ill patient The three main factors that affect stroke volume are preload, afterload, and contractility

Assessment of cardiovascular insult typically requires the insertion of arterial catheters and pulmonary artery catheters, which monitor CO, cardiac index, and other hemodynamic parameters. Critical care nursing is a specialty of its own, requiring astute clinical judgement and critical thinking, due to the complexity of the patient’s medical challenges

arterial catheter — small, flexible catheter that is inserted into an artery and connected to monitoring equipment to reflect continuous blood pressure measurements. vasopressors — medications that improve blood pressure and organ perfusion by constricting blood vessels. contractility — strength of the cardiac muscles during a contraction. hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) — pressure ulcers that are acquired during an inpatient hospital stay, most often related to pressure from medical devices or prolonged immobility.