HURST Review Cardiac Exam Questions
With Correct Answers 2025-2026
Preload - ANSWER-the amount of blood returning to the right side of the heart and the
muscle stretch that the volume causes. ANP is released when we have this stretch
Afterload - ANSWER-the pressure in the aorta and peripheral arteries that the left
ventricle has to pump against to get the blood out
The pressure during afterload is referred to as - ANSWER-resistance
With hypertension there's even more _______________ for the
________________________ to pump against - ANSWER-resistance; left ventricle
Hypertension can eventually lead to _______________ and _________________,
because ___________________. Plus, _________________ - ANSWER-HF;
pulmonary edema; high afterload decreases CO and decreases forward flow; it wears
your heart out
Stroke volume - ANSWER-the amount of blood pumped out of the ventricles with each
beat
CO = ______ X _______ - ANSWER-HR; SV
Tissue perfusion is dependent on - ANSWER-an adequate CO
Cardiac output changes according to the - ANSWER-body's demands (needs)
Factors that affect CO - ANSWER-1. HR and certain arrhythmias
2. Blood volume
3. Decreased contractility
Less volume = - ANSWER-less CO
More volume = - ANSWER-more CO
What can cause decreased contractility? - ANSWER--MI
-medication
-cardiac muscle disease
Medications that affect preload - ANSWER-1. diuretics (furosemide)
2. nitrates (nitroglycerin)
,Medications that affect afterload - ANSWER-1. ACE inhibitors (enalapril, fosinopril,
captopril)
2. ARBS (losartan, irbesartan)
3. Hydralazine
4. Nitrates
Medications that improve contractility - ANSWER-inotropes (dopamine, dobutamine,
milrinone)
Medications that affect rate control - ANSWER-1. Beta blockers (propanolol, metoprolol,
atenolol,
carvedilol)
2. Calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil,
amlodipine)
3. Digoxin
How do diuretics (furosemide) and nitrates (nitroglycerin) affect cardiac output? -
ANSWER-vasodilate to diurese to reduce (decrease) preload
How do ACE inhibitors (enalapril, fosinopril, captopril), ARBS (losartan, irbesartan),
Hydralazine, and Nitrates affect afterload? - ANSWER-vasodilate to reduce (decrease)
afterload
If CO is decreased, - ANSWER-you cannot perfuse properly
If CO is decreased, what will happen to the brain? - ANSWER-LOC will go down
If CO is decreased, what will happen to the heart? - ANSWER-clients will report chest
pain
If CO is decreased, what will happen to the lungs? - ANSWER-lungs are wet and
patients have SOB
If CO is decreased, what will happen to the skin? - ANSWER-it will be cold and clammy
If CO is decreased, what will happen to the kidneys? - ANSWER-UO goes down
If CO is decreased, what will happen to peripheral pulses? - ANSWER-weak and
thready
Arrhythmias are no big deal UNTIL, - ANSWER-they affect your CO
3 arrhythmias that are always a big deal - ANSWER-1. pulseless ventricular tachycardia
2. ventricular fibrillation
3. asystole
, CAD is the most common type of - ANSWER-cardiovascular disease
CAD is a broad term that includes - ANSWER--chronic stable angina
-acute coronary syndrome
Chronic stable angina is - ANSWER-intermittent decreased blood flow to the
myocardium that leads to ischemia
The ischemia brought on by chronic stable angina can lead to - ANSWER-temporary
pain/pressure in chest
Chronic Stable Angina: The pain associated is brought on by - ANSWER-low O2 usually
d/t exertion
Chronic Stable Angina: What relieves the pain? - ANSWER-rest and/or nitroglycerin SL
Medications for Chronic Stable Angina - ANSWER-1. nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) SL
2. beta blockers
3. calcium channel blockers
4. acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)
Nitroclycerin causes ___________________ that will cause - ANSWER-venous and
arterial dilation; decreased preload and afterload
Nitroclycerin also causes - ANSWER-dilation of the coronary arteries which will increase
blood flow to the actual heart muscle (myocardium)
Nitroclycerin: Take 1 every - ANSWER-5 mins x 3 doses
Nitroclycerin: Okay to swallow? - ANSWER-NO
Nitroclycerin: Keep in - ANSWER-a dark, glass bottle; dry cool
Nitroclycerin: May or may not - ANSWER-burn or fizz
Nitroclycerin: The client will get - ANSWER-a H/A
Nitroclycerin: How often should you renew the tablets? What about the spray? -
ANSWER--an average of every 6 months
-every 2 years
Nitroclycerin: After administering, what do you expect the BP to do? - ANSWER-
decrease
TESTING STRATEGY: Never leave - ANSWER-an unstable client
With Correct Answers 2025-2026
Preload - ANSWER-the amount of blood returning to the right side of the heart and the
muscle stretch that the volume causes. ANP is released when we have this stretch
Afterload - ANSWER-the pressure in the aorta and peripheral arteries that the left
ventricle has to pump against to get the blood out
The pressure during afterload is referred to as - ANSWER-resistance
With hypertension there's even more _______________ for the
________________________ to pump against - ANSWER-resistance; left ventricle
Hypertension can eventually lead to _______________ and _________________,
because ___________________. Plus, _________________ - ANSWER-HF;
pulmonary edema; high afterload decreases CO and decreases forward flow; it wears
your heart out
Stroke volume - ANSWER-the amount of blood pumped out of the ventricles with each
beat
CO = ______ X _______ - ANSWER-HR; SV
Tissue perfusion is dependent on - ANSWER-an adequate CO
Cardiac output changes according to the - ANSWER-body's demands (needs)
Factors that affect CO - ANSWER-1. HR and certain arrhythmias
2. Blood volume
3. Decreased contractility
Less volume = - ANSWER-less CO
More volume = - ANSWER-more CO
What can cause decreased contractility? - ANSWER--MI
-medication
-cardiac muscle disease
Medications that affect preload - ANSWER-1. diuretics (furosemide)
2. nitrates (nitroglycerin)
,Medications that affect afterload - ANSWER-1. ACE inhibitors (enalapril, fosinopril,
captopril)
2. ARBS (losartan, irbesartan)
3. Hydralazine
4. Nitrates
Medications that improve contractility - ANSWER-inotropes (dopamine, dobutamine,
milrinone)
Medications that affect rate control - ANSWER-1. Beta blockers (propanolol, metoprolol,
atenolol,
carvedilol)
2. Calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil,
amlodipine)
3. Digoxin
How do diuretics (furosemide) and nitrates (nitroglycerin) affect cardiac output? -
ANSWER-vasodilate to diurese to reduce (decrease) preload
How do ACE inhibitors (enalapril, fosinopril, captopril), ARBS (losartan, irbesartan),
Hydralazine, and Nitrates affect afterload? - ANSWER-vasodilate to reduce (decrease)
afterload
If CO is decreased, - ANSWER-you cannot perfuse properly
If CO is decreased, what will happen to the brain? - ANSWER-LOC will go down
If CO is decreased, what will happen to the heart? - ANSWER-clients will report chest
pain
If CO is decreased, what will happen to the lungs? - ANSWER-lungs are wet and
patients have SOB
If CO is decreased, what will happen to the skin? - ANSWER-it will be cold and clammy
If CO is decreased, what will happen to the kidneys? - ANSWER-UO goes down
If CO is decreased, what will happen to peripheral pulses? - ANSWER-weak and
thready
Arrhythmias are no big deal UNTIL, - ANSWER-they affect your CO
3 arrhythmias that are always a big deal - ANSWER-1. pulseless ventricular tachycardia
2. ventricular fibrillation
3. asystole
, CAD is the most common type of - ANSWER-cardiovascular disease
CAD is a broad term that includes - ANSWER--chronic stable angina
-acute coronary syndrome
Chronic stable angina is - ANSWER-intermittent decreased blood flow to the
myocardium that leads to ischemia
The ischemia brought on by chronic stable angina can lead to - ANSWER-temporary
pain/pressure in chest
Chronic Stable Angina: The pain associated is brought on by - ANSWER-low O2 usually
d/t exertion
Chronic Stable Angina: What relieves the pain? - ANSWER-rest and/or nitroglycerin SL
Medications for Chronic Stable Angina - ANSWER-1. nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) SL
2. beta blockers
3. calcium channel blockers
4. acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)
Nitroclycerin causes ___________________ that will cause - ANSWER-venous and
arterial dilation; decreased preload and afterload
Nitroclycerin also causes - ANSWER-dilation of the coronary arteries which will increase
blood flow to the actual heart muscle (myocardium)
Nitroclycerin: Take 1 every - ANSWER-5 mins x 3 doses
Nitroclycerin: Okay to swallow? - ANSWER-NO
Nitroclycerin: Keep in - ANSWER-a dark, glass bottle; dry cool
Nitroclycerin: May or may not - ANSWER-burn or fizz
Nitroclycerin: The client will get - ANSWER-a H/A
Nitroclycerin: How often should you renew the tablets? What about the spray? -
ANSWER--an average of every 6 months
-every 2 years
Nitroclycerin: After administering, what do you expect the BP to do? - ANSWER-
decrease
TESTING STRATEGY: Never leave - ANSWER-an unstable client
