The nurse is careful to monitor a patient's cardiac output. Which goal is the nurse trying to achieve?

A) To determine peripheral extremity circulation
B) To determine oxygenation requirements
C) To determine cardiac dysrhythmias
D) To determine ventilation status

Cardiac output indicates how much blood is being circulated systemically throughout the body to the periphery. The amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle each minute is the cardiac output. Oxygen status would be determined by pulse oximetry and the presence of cyanosis. Cardiac dysrhythmias are an electrical impulse monitored through ECG results. Ventilation status is measured by respiratory rate, pulse oximetry, and capnography. Capnography provides instant information about the patient's ventilation. Ventilation status does not depend solely on cardiac output.