NURS 301 EXAM 2 2026/2027 – COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & EXAM REVIEW
What is cardiac output? - correct answer ✔✔HR x stroke volume
How is stroke volume determined? - correct answer ✔✔1. preload
2. contractility
3. afterload
Stroke volume is approx. 70cc
Cardiac Output - correct answer ✔✔Total amount of blood pumped by each ventricle in 1 minute
Normal adult at rest is 4L to 8L
Preload - correct answer ✔✔Volume of blood in ventricles at end of diastole before next contraction - it
determines the amount of stretch placed on myocardial fibers
Contractility - correct answer ✔✔Refers to the ability of the heart to depolarize, the force of contraction.
It is affected by the autonomic nervous system
Afterload - correct answer ✔✔Peripheral resistance which Left ventricle must pump against - affected by
size of ventricle, wall tension, and arterial blood pressure
Starling's Law - correct answer ✔✔Up to a point the more myocardial fibers are stretched the greater
the force of contraction
Preload and Afterload - correct answer ✔✔
Autonomic Regulation of the Cardiovascular System - correct answer ✔✔- Barorecptors in aortic arch
and carotids responsive to stretch
- Chemoreceptors in aortic arch and carotids responsive to pH, PO2 and PCo2
- Information conveyed to vasomotor center in brainstem
Sympathetic Stimulation - correct answer ✔✔- Release of Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
- Epi and NE stimulate β-1 Receptors
- NE stimulates α-1 receptors
- Increases Heart rate, conduction, contractility, and peripheral vasoconstriction
Parasympathetic Stimulation - correct answer ✔✔- Mediated by Vagus Nerve
- Slows Heart Rate, Contractility and Conduction
What are the 3 major types of blood vessels? - correct answer ✔✔Arteries, capillaries, veins
Diagnostic Studies of Heart - correct answer ✔✔- CXR
- ECG
,- Holter Monitor/ Event Monitor
- Echocardiogram (2-D or Transesophageal)
- Exercise Stress Test/Stress Echo
Cardiac Enzymes - correct answer ✔✔Indicate damage to myocardial cells and include CK-MB, troponins,
troponin T, and Troponin I
CK-MB - correct answer ✔✔Cardiac-specific isoenzyme - rises with myocardial damage
Rise in 3-12 hours
Peak in 24 hours
Return to baseline in 48-72 hours
Troponins - correct answer ✔✔Protein found in myocardial cells - help regulate contractile process
Troponin T - correct answer ✔✔- Should be <0.2 ng/L
- First detected 3-5 hrs, stays elevated for 14-21 days
Troponin I - correct answer ✔✔- Should be <0.03 ng/L
- First detected 3 hrs, stays elevated 7-10 days
Blood Pressure - correct answer ✔✔Force exerted by blood against artery wall during ventricular
contraction (systolic) & ventricular relaxation (diastolic)
- Must be adequate to maintain tissue perfusion during activity & rest
- Blood pressure - Products of Cardiac Output X SVR
- SNS, Cardiovascular, Renal, & Endocrine systems regulates BP
Hypertension - correct answer ✔✔Systolic is > 140 mmHg & diastolic is > 90 mmHg
for extended periods of time
Negative effects: gradually damages blood vessels
Target organs: Heart, Kidneys, Brain, & Eyes
HTN puts individuals at risk for: - correct answer ✔✔- MI
- CHF
- CVA
- Renal Failure
- Retinal Damage/Impaired Vision
Who is at risk for HTN? - correct answer ✔✔- Increased age
- Hispanics and African Americans have higher rates of uncontrolled blood pressure
Classification of Hypertension - Normal - correct answer ✔✔SBP < 120 DBP < 80
Classification of Hypertension - Prehypertension - correct answer ✔✔SBP 120-139 DBP 80-89
Life style changes
,Classification of Hypertension - Stage 1 HTN - correct answer ✔✔SBP 140-159 or DBP 90-99
Initiate some type of pharmacological agent to help lower BP (ex: diuretic)
Classification of Hypertension - Stage 2 HTN - correct answer ✔✔SBP >160 or DBP > 100
May initiate a couple types of medications (ex: diuretic and a beta-blocker)
Some medication regimens work better for certain people (can be a process of trial and error)
Primary HTN - correct answer ✔✔From an unidentified cause (majority of people with high blood
pressure)
Secondary HTN - correct answer ✔✔Related to identified cause (ex: genetic condition causing narrowing
of the aorta)
Risk Factors for HTN - correct answer ✔✔- Obesity (BMI > = 30)
- Dyslipidemia
- Diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Impaired renal function
- Age ( > 55 men, > 65 women)
- Family History
Metabolic Syndrome - correct answer ✔✔- Insulin resistance > fasting > 100mg/dL or abnormal glucose
test
- Central obesity (waist circumference > 35 inches females, > 40 males)
- Dyslipidemia (triglycerides > 150, HDL < 50 in females, < 40 males)
- BP > 130/85 (persistently above)
- Proinflammatory state- high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP is an inflammatory marker)
- Prothrombotic state- high fibrinogen levels
If a pt has three of these they are at significant risk for cardiovascular disease***
Target Organ Damage - Heart - correct answer ✔✔- Coronary Artery Disease
- Left Ventricle Hypertrophy
- HF
Target Organ Damage - Eyes - correct answer ✔✔- Retinal damage
Target Organ Damage - Kidneys - correct answer ✔✔- Renal/Kidney Disease
Target Organ Damage - Brain - correct answer ✔✔- Stroke
- TIA
Target Organ Damage - PAD/PVD - correct answer ✔✔- Athersclerosis in peripheral blood vessels
Diagnostic Studies of HTN - correct answer ✔✔- Manual BP (most accurate)
, - BUN
- Creatinine
- GFR
- Urinalysis
- Electrolytes
- Blood Glucose
- Cholesterol
- ECG
- Echo
- Sleep Study
Goal of HTN Treatment - correct answer ✔✔Prevent complications and death by achieving and
maintaining an arterial blood pressure of 140/90 or lower. 130/80 for individuals with CKD or diabetes
Inexpensive, simple, and causes least disruption in patient's life
Lifestyle Modifications for HTN - correct answer ✔✔- Decrease Na intake (2 g or less)
- DASH diet
- Weight reduction (BMI 18.5-24.9)
- Increase physical activity (30 min/day)
- Moderation alcohol consumption
D.A.S.H. Diet for HTN - correct answer ✔✔Low fat/dairy, increased fruits/vegetables, grains,
meat/fish/poultry, etc.
Teaching Low Sodium Diet - correct answer ✔✔- Ideal 2 grams or less per day
- Read labels
- Do not cook with salt
- Avoid using salt shaker
- Try using different spices
- Limit processed, pickled or cured foods (ex. cheese, hot dog, ham, etc.)
- Be cautious with canned foods (ex. soups, vegetables)
- Avoid fast food and salty snacks
Medical Management of HTN - correct answer ✔✔Second line treatment after lifestyle changes
- Diuretics
- Beta Blockers
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- ARBs
- ACE-I (prevent the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II)
Hypertensive Emergency - correct answer ✔✔- Blood pressures is extremely high and must bring BP
down to HALT end organ damage
- s/s acute MIs, dissecting aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage
Requires immediate intervention
QUESTIONS & EXAM REVIEW
What is cardiac output? - correct answer ✔✔HR x stroke volume
How is stroke volume determined? - correct answer ✔✔1. preload
2. contractility
3. afterload
Stroke volume is approx. 70cc
Cardiac Output - correct answer ✔✔Total amount of blood pumped by each ventricle in 1 minute
Normal adult at rest is 4L to 8L
Preload - correct answer ✔✔Volume of blood in ventricles at end of diastole before next contraction - it
determines the amount of stretch placed on myocardial fibers
Contractility - correct answer ✔✔Refers to the ability of the heart to depolarize, the force of contraction.
It is affected by the autonomic nervous system
Afterload - correct answer ✔✔Peripheral resistance which Left ventricle must pump against - affected by
size of ventricle, wall tension, and arterial blood pressure
Starling's Law - correct answer ✔✔Up to a point the more myocardial fibers are stretched the greater
the force of contraction
Preload and Afterload - correct answer ✔✔
Autonomic Regulation of the Cardiovascular System - correct answer ✔✔- Barorecptors in aortic arch
and carotids responsive to stretch
- Chemoreceptors in aortic arch and carotids responsive to pH, PO2 and PCo2
- Information conveyed to vasomotor center in brainstem
Sympathetic Stimulation - correct answer ✔✔- Release of Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
- Epi and NE stimulate β-1 Receptors
- NE stimulates α-1 receptors
- Increases Heart rate, conduction, contractility, and peripheral vasoconstriction
Parasympathetic Stimulation - correct answer ✔✔- Mediated by Vagus Nerve
- Slows Heart Rate, Contractility and Conduction
What are the 3 major types of blood vessels? - correct answer ✔✔Arteries, capillaries, veins
Diagnostic Studies of Heart - correct answer ✔✔- CXR
- ECG
,- Holter Monitor/ Event Monitor
- Echocardiogram (2-D or Transesophageal)
- Exercise Stress Test/Stress Echo
Cardiac Enzymes - correct answer ✔✔Indicate damage to myocardial cells and include CK-MB, troponins,
troponin T, and Troponin I
CK-MB - correct answer ✔✔Cardiac-specific isoenzyme - rises with myocardial damage
Rise in 3-12 hours
Peak in 24 hours
Return to baseline in 48-72 hours
Troponins - correct answer ✔✔Protein found in myocardial cells - help regulate contractile process
Troponin T - correct answer ✔✔- Should be <0.2 ng/L
- First detected 3-5 hrs, stays elevated for 14-21 days
Troponin I - correct answer ✔✔- Should be <0.03 ng/L
- First detected 3 hrs, stays elevated 7-10 days
Blood Pressure - correct answer ✔✔Force exerted by blood against artery wall during ventricular
contraction (systolic) & ventricular relaxation (diastolic)
- Must be adequate to maintain tissue perfusion during activity & rest
- Blood pressure - Products of Cardiac Output X SVR
- SNS, Cardiovascular, Renal, & Endocrine systems regulates BP
Hypertension - correct answer ✔✔Systolic is > 140 mmHg & diastolic is > 90 mmHg
for extended periods of time
Negative effects: gradually damages blood vessels
Target organs: Heart, Kidneys, Brain, & Eyes
HTN puts individuals at risk for: - correct answer ✔✔- MI
- CHF
- CVA
- Renal Failure
- Retinal Damage/Impaired Vision
Who is at risk for HTN? - correct answer ✔✔- Increased age
- Hispanics and African Americans have higher rates of uncontrolled blood pressure
Classification of Hypertension - Normal - correct answer ✔✔SBP < 120 DBP < 80
Classification of Hypertension - Prehypertension - correct answer ✔✔SBP 120-139 DBP 80-89
Life style changes
,Classification of Hypertension - Stage 1 HTN - correct answer ✔✔SBP 140-159 or DBP 90-99
Initiate some type of pharmacological agent to help lower BP (ex: diuretic)
Classification of Hypertension - Stage 2 HTN - correct answer ✔✔SBP >160 or DBP > 100
May initiate a couple types of medications (ex: diuretic and a beta-blocker)
Some medication regimens work better for certain people (can be a process of trial and error)
Primary HTN - correct answer ✔✔From an unidentified cause (majority of people with high blood
pressure)
Secondary HTN - correct answer ✔✔Related to identified cause (ex: genetic condition causing narrowing
of the aorta)
Risk Factors for HTN - correct answer ✔✔- Obesity (BMI > = 30)
- Dyslipidemia
- Diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Impaired renal function
- Age ( > 55 men, > 65 women)
- Family History
Metabolic Syndrome - correct answer ✔✔- Insulin resistance > fasting > 100mg/dL or abnormal glucose
test
- Central obesity (waist circumference > 35 inches females, > 40 males)
- Dyslipidemia (triglycerides > 150, HDL < 50 in females, < 40 males)
- BP > 130/85 (persistently above)
- Proinflammatory state- high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP is an inflammatory marker)
- Prothrombotic state- high fibrinogen levels
If a pt has three of these they are at significant risk for cardiovascular disease***
Target Organ Damage - Heart - correct answer ✔✔- Coronary Artery Disease
- Left Ventricle Hypertrophy
- HF
Target Organ Damage - Eyes - correct answer ✔✔- Retinal damage
Target Organ Damage - Kidneys - correct answer ✔✔- Renal/Kidney Disease
Target Organ Damage - Brain - correct answer ✔✔- Stroke
- TIA
Target Organ Damage - PAD/PVD - correct answer ✔✔- Athersclerosis in peripheral blood vessels
Diagnostic Studies of HTN - correct answer ✔✔- Manual BP (most accurate)
, - BUN
- Creatinine
- GFR
- Urinalysis
- Electrolytes
- Blood Glucose
- Cholesterol
- ECG
- Echo
- Sleep Study
Goal of HTN Treatment - correct answer ✔✔Prevent complications and death by achieving and
maintaining an arterial blood pressure of 140/90 or lower. 130/80 for individuals with CKD or diabetes
Inexpensive, simple, and causes least disruption in patient's life
Lifestyle Modifications for HTN - correct answer ✔✔- Decrease Na intake (2 g or less)
- DASH diet
- Weight reduction (BMI 18.5-24.9)
- Increase physical activity (30 min/day)
- Moderation alcohol consumption
D.A.S.H. Diet for HTN - correct answer ✔✔Low fat/dairy, increased fruits/vegetables, grains,
meat/fish/poultry, etc.
Teaching Low Sodium Diet - correct answer ✔✔- Ideal 2 grams or less per day
- Read labels
- Do not cook with salt
- Avoid using salt shaker
- Try using different spices
- Limit processed, pickled or cured foods (ex. cheese, hot dog, ham, etc.)
- Be cautious with canned foods (ex. soups, vegetables)
- Avoid fast food and salty snacks
Medical Management of HTN - correct answer ✔✔Second line treatment after lifestyle changes
- Diuretics
- Beta Blockers
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- ARBs
- ACE-I (prevent the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II)
Hypertensive Emergency - correct answer ✔✔- Blood pressures is extremely high and must bring BP
down to HALT end organ damage
- s/s acute MIs, dissecting aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage
Requires immediate intervention
