CCRN Terms Exam 2025 Questions and
Answers
Turner's Sign - ANSWER-blue discoloration of the flank, indicating
retroperitoneal bleeding
Cullen's Sign - ANSWER-blue discoloration of periumbilical area, indicating intra-
abdominal bleeding
Coopernail's Sign - ANSWER-bruising of the scrotum or labia, indicating pelvic
bleeding
Kehr's Sign - ANSWER-deferred left shoulder pain (phrenic nerve irritation
related to splenic rupture)
Chvostek's Sign - ANSWER-facial muscle twitching, seen when cheek is tapped;
indicates hypocalcemia
Trousseau's Sign - ANSWER-carpal pedal (hand) spasm when BP cuff is inflated
beyond systolic pressure (must occur within 3 minutes of stimulus); indicates
hypocalcemia
Virchow's Triad - ANSWER-factors that contribute to thrombosis:
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,1. hypercoagulability
2. hemodynamic changes (stasis, turbulence)
3. blood vessel injury/dysfunction
Beck's Triad - ANSWER-associated with acute cardiac tamponade:
- low arterial blood pressure
- distended neck veins
- distant, muffled heart sounds
Ashman's Phenomenon - ANSWER-long R-R interval followed by short R-R
interval
Eisenmenger's Syndrome - ANSWER-occurs when the increased pressure of the
blood flow in the lung becomes so great that the direction of blood flow through
the shunt reverses
Kernig's Sign - ANSWER-positive when the thigh is flexed at the hip and knee at
90 degree angles, and subsequent extension in the knee is painful (leading to
resistance). This may indicate subarachnoid hemorrhage or meningitis.
Brudzinski's Sign - ANSWER-involuntary flexion of the hip and knee when the
neck is bent forward, indicates meningitis
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,Preload - ANSWER-measure of VOLUME of blood that causes stretch in the
myocardial cells just prior to systole
determines if needs FLUID or DIURETICS
VENOUS RETURN - most important factor in determining preload
affects preload:
- change in blood volume
- venous constriction
- venous dilation
- PEEP, vasodilators, a-fib, hypovolemia
Central Venous Pressure (CVP)/Right Atrial Pressure - ANSWER-2-8 mmHg
right side of the heart - preload pressure
reflects the amount of blood returning to the heart and the ability of the heart to
pump the blood into the arterial system
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, Pulmonary Artery Pressure - ANSWER-Systolic 20-30 mmHg (PAS)
Diastolic 8-12 mmHg (PAD)
Mean 25 mmHg (PAM)
Pulmonary Artery Wedge/Occlusion Pressure (PAOP) - ANSWER-8-12 mmHg
left side of the heart (wedge) - preload pressure
measured by wedging a pulmonary catheter with an inflated balloon into a small
pulmonary arterial branch
provides an indirect measure of the left atrial pressure
Afterload - ANSWER-the resistance to ventricular emptying during systole
(amount of PRESSURE). If increased, the heart must work harder and will have an
INCREASE DEMAND FOR O2
determines if needs VASOPRESSORS or VASODILATORS
affects afterload:
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 4
Answers
Turner's Sign - ANSWER-blue discoloration of the flank, indicating
retroperitoneal bleeding
Cullen's Sign - ANSWER-blue discoloration of periumbilical area, indicating intra-
abdominal bleeding
Coopernail's Sign - ANSWER-bruising of the scrotum or labia, indicating pelvic
bleeding
Kehr's Sign - ANSWER-deferred left shoulder pain (phrenic nerve irritation
related to splenic rupture)
Chvostek's Sign - ANSWER-facial muscle twitching, seen when cheek is tapped;
indicates hypocalcemia
Trousseau's Sign - ANSWER-carpal pedal (hand) spasm when BP cuff is inflated
beyond systolic pressure (must occur within 3 minutes of stimulus); indicates
hypocalcemia
Virchow's Triad - ANSWER-factors that contribute to thrombosis:
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 1
,1. hypercoagulability
2. hemodynamic changes (stasis, turbulence)
3. blood vessel injury/dysfunction
Beck's Triad - ANSWER-associated with acute cardiac tamponade:
- low arterial blood pressure
- distended neck veins
- distant, muffled heart sounds
Ashman's Phenomenon - ANSWER-long R-R interval followed by short R-R
interval
Eisenmenger's Syndrome - ANSWER-occurs when the increased pressure of the
blood flow in the lung becomes so great that the direction of blood flow through
the shunt reverses
Kernig's Sign - ANSWER-positive when the thigh is flexed at the hip and knee at
90 degree angles, and subsequent extension in the knee is painful (leading to
resistance). This may indicate subarachnoid hemorrhage or meningitis.
Brudzinski's Sign - ANSWER-involuntary flexion of the hip and knee when the
neck is bent forward, indicates meningitis
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 2
,Preload - ANSWER-measure of VOLUME of blood that causes stretch in the
myocardial cells just prior to systole
determines if needs FLUID or DIURETICS
VENOUS RETURN - most important factor in determining preload
affects preload:
- change in blood volume
- venous constriction
- venous dilation
- PEEP, vasodilators, a-fib, hypovolemia
Central Venous Pressure (CVP)/Right Atrial Pressure - ANSWER-2-8 mmHg
right side of the heart - preload pressure
reflects the amount of blood returning to the heart and the ability of the heart to
pump the blood into the arterial system
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 3
, Pulmonary Artery Pressure - ANSWER-Systolic 20-30 mmHg (PAS)
Diastolic 8-12 mmHg (PAD)
Mean 25 mmHg (PAM)
Pulmonary Artery Wedge/Occlusion Pressure (PAOP) - ANSWER-8-12 mmHg
left side of the heart (wedge) - preload pressure
measured by wedging a pulmonary catheter with an inflated balloon into a small
pulmonary arterial branch
provides an indirect measure of the left atrial pressure
Afterload - ANSWER-the resistance to ventricular emptying during systole
(amount of PRESSURE). If increased, the heart must work harder and will have an
INCREASE DEMAND FOR O2
determines if needs VASOPRESSORS or VASODILATORS
affects afterload:
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 4
