NSG 460- Care of the Critically Ill
patient-Cardiac
What concerns us with arrhythmia? - CORRECT ANSWER-We are concerned with their
effect on the heart as a pump. Arrhythmias can mean the heart is beating too fast or
slow for effective pumping or there is no pumping.
What are concerns with Supraventricular tachycardia - CORRECT ANSWER-It can tire
the heart and contribute to inadequate filling of the heart.
What type of rhythm is associated with atrial fibrillation? - CORRECT ANSWER-No p
waves, irregularly regular
How do we know if a person has a third degree heart block from a ECG? - CORRECT
ANSWER-If P's and Q's don't agree then we have third degree
What rhythms are considered lethal rhythms? - CORRECT ANSWER-Ventricle
fibrillation and asystole
What is the calculation for cardiac output? - CORRECT ANSWER-CO = stroke volume *
heart rate
What things affect stroke volume? - CORRECT ANSWER-preload, afterload,
contractility
What is preload? - CORRECT ANSWER-the degree of stretch on the heart before it
contracts
What is afterload? - CORRECT ANSWER-Pressure/resistance in aorta and peripheral
arteries that left ventricle has to pump against to get blood out.
What does CVP mean? - CORRECT ANSWER-central venous pressure, pressure in
the thoracic vena cava near the right atrium (used to assess a patients fluid volume
status and cardiac function)
What is a normal range for CVP? - CORRECT ANSWER-3-10
What does PCWP mean? - CORRECT ANSWER-pulmonary capillary wedge pressure-
is frequently used to assess left ventricular filling, represent left atrial pressure, and
assess mitral valve function.
What is the normal range for PCWP? - CORRECT ANSWER-6-12
, What does SVR mean? - CORRECT ANSWER-Systemic vascular resistance-the
resistance in the circulatory system that is used to create blood pressure.
What is the normal range for SVR? - CORRECT ANSWER-800-1200
What is the typical cardiac output? - CORRECT ANSWER-4-8 L
What is the cause of a decreased preload? - CORRECT ANSWER-hypovolemia,
anything that inhibits venous return, venous dilation
What is the treatment for decreased preload? - CORRECT ANSWER-Giving
fluid/volume
What is the cause of increased preload? - CORRECT ANSWER-fluid volume overload,
heart failure
What are some of the treatments for increased preload? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Diuretics, vasodilators (such as morphine and nitroglycerin)
What are the causes of decreased after load? - CORRECT ANSWER-Arterial
vasodilation (e.g. sepsis/ anaphylaxis)
What is the treatment for decreased after load? - CORRECT ANSWER-fluids, arterial
vasoconstriction (vasopressors)
What causes increased after load? - CORRECT ANSWER-Systemic Hypertension,
Arterial vasoconstriction,
What are some of the treatments for increased after load? - CORRECT ANSWER-
arterial vasodilators (e.g. nipride)
SA node - CORRECT ANSWER-The electrical pacemaker of the heart
AV node - CORRECT ANSWER-relays electrical impulses from atria into ventricles
What part of the PQRS represents atrial depolarization? - CORRECT ANSWER-P wave
What is that standard PR interval? - CORRECT ANSWER-0.12-0.20
How long is the standard QRS complex? - CORRECT ANSWER-0.08-0.10
What causes a decreased contractility? - CORRECT ANSWER-Negative inotropic
drugs: beta blockers, MI, metabolic stress, hyperkalemia, acidosis
patient-Cardiac
What concerns us with arrhythmia? - CORRECT ANSWER-We are concerned with their
effect on the heart as a pump. Arrhythmias can mean the heart is beating too fast or
slow for effective pumping or there is no pumping.
What are concerns with Supraventricular tachycardia - CORRECT ANSWER-It can tire
the heart and contribute to inadequate filling of the heart.
What type of rhythm is associated with atrial fibrillation? - CORRECT ANSWER-No p
waves, irregularly regular
How do we know if a person has a third degree heart block from a ECG? - CORRECT
ANSWER-If P's and Q's don't agree then we have third degree
What rhythms are considered lethal rhythms? - CORRECT ANSWER-Ventricle
fibrillation and asystole
What is the calculation for cardiac output? - CORRECT ANSWER-CO = stroke volume *
heart rate
What things affect stroke volume? - CORRECT ANSWER-preload, afterload,
contractility
What is preload? - CORRECT ANSWER-the degree of stretch on the heart before it
contracts
What is afterload? - CORRECT ANSWER-Pressure/resistance in aorta and peripheral
arteries that left ventricle has to pump against to get blood out.
What does CVP mean? - CORRECT ANSWER-central venous pressure, pressure in
the thoracic vena cava near the right atrium (used to assess a patients fluid volume
status and cardiac function)
What is a normal range for CVP? - CORRECT ANSWER-3-10
What does PCWP mean? - CORRECT ANSWER-pulmonary capillary wedge pressure-
is frequently used to assess left ventricular filling, represent left atrial pressure, and
assess mitral valve function.
What is the normal range for PCWP? - CORRECT ANSWER-6-12
, What does SVR mean? - CORRECT ANSWER-Systemic vascular resistance-the
resistance in the circulatory system that is used to create blood pressure.
What is the normal range for SVR? - CORRECT ANSWER-800-1200
What is the typical cardiac output? - CORRECT ANSWER-4-8 L
What is the cause of a decreased preload? - CORRECT ANSWER-hypovolemia,
anything that inhibits venous return, venous dilation
What is the treatment for decreased preload? - CORRECT ANSWER-Giving
fluid/volume
What is the cause of increased preload? - CORRECT ANSWER-fluid volume overload,
heart failure
What are some of the treatments for increased preload? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Diuretics, vasodilators (such as morphine and nitroglycerin)
What are the causes of decreased after load? - CORRECT ANSWER-Arterial
vasodilation (e.g. sepsis/ anaphylaxis)
What is the treatment for decreased after load? - CORRECT ANSWER-fluids, arterial
vasoconstriction (vasopressors)
What causes increased after load? - CORRECT ANSWER-Systemic Hypertension,
Arterial vasoconstriction,
What are some of the treatments for increased after load? - CORRECT ANSWER-
arterial vasodilators (e.g. nipride)
SA node - CORRECT ANSWER-The electrical pacemaker of the heart
AV node - CORRECT ANSWER-relays electrical impulses from atria into ventricles
What part of the PQRS represents atrial depolarization? - CORRECT ANSWER-P wave
What is that standard PR interval? - CORRECT ANSWER-0.12-0.20
How long is the standard QRS complex? - CORRECT ANSWER-0.08-0.10
What causes a decreased contractility? - CORRECT ANSWER-Negative inotropic
drugs: beta blockers, MI, metabolic stress, hyperkalemia, acidosis
