NUR 425 MedSurg 2 - Exam 3: Complete
Question & Answer Set Latest 2026 | Graded
A+ | Arizona College of Nursing
SECTION 1: Hemodynamics & Cardiac Function
Question 1: Increased ____________ results in a more forceful contraction and
__________ cardiac output.
• A) Afterload / decreases
• B) Preload / increases
• C) Contractility / decreases
• D) Peripheral resistance / decreases
Answer: B) Increased preload results in a more forceful contraction and increases
cardiac output.
Rationale: Preload refers to the volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of
diastole (stretch). According to the Frank-Starling law, increased preload leads to
increased contractile force and stroke volume .
Question 2: A __________ in cardiac contractility results in lower
______________ and subsequent cardiac output.
• A) Reduction / preload
• B) Increase / afterload
• C) Reduction / afterload
• D) Increase / preload
,Answer: A) A reduction in cardiac contractility results in lower preload and
subsequent cardiac output.
Rationale: Decreased contractility means the heart pumps less effectively, leaving
more blood remaining in the ventricle (increased end-systolic volume), which
reduces preload for the next beat and lowers overall cardiac output .
Question 3: _____________ is a lower blood volume and will result in _________
cardiac output.
• A) Hypervolemia / increased
• B) Hypovolemia / lower
• C) Hypovolemia / increased
• D) Hypervolemia / lower
Answer: B) Hypovolemia is a lower blood volume and will result in lower cardiac
output.
Rationale: Hypovolemia decreases venous return, which decreases preload,
stroke volume, and ultimately cardiac output .
Question 4: __________ resistance increases __________ and increases the
workload on the heart.
• A) Peripheral vascular / afterload
• B) Peripheral vascular / preload
• C) Central venous / afterload
• D) Pulmonary / preload
Answer: A) Peripheral vascular resistance increases afterload and increases the
workload on the heart.
Rationale: Afterload is the resistance the left ventricle must overcome to eject
, blood. Increased PVR (vasoconstriction) increases afterload, making the heart
work harder .
Question 5: What medication classification is used to decrease afterload?
• A) Diuretics
• B) Antihypertensives
• C) Inotropes
• D) Anticoagulants
Answer: B) Antihypertensives (e.g., ACE inhibitors, ARBs, vasodilators) decrease
afterload by dilating arteries and reducing peripheral resistance .
Question 6: What medication classification is used to decrease preload?
• A) Antihypertensives
• B) Inotropes
• C) Diuretics
• D) Beta-blockers
Answer: C) Diuretics decrease preload by reducing blood volume through
increased urinary output .
Question 7: What medication classification is used to increase contractility?
• A) Diuretics
• B) Antihypertensives
• C) Inotropic agents
• D) Beta-blockers
Question & Answer Set Latest 2026 | Graded
A+ | Arizona College of Nursing
SECTION 1: Hemodynamics & Cardiac Function
Question 1: Increased ____________ results in a more forceful contraction and
__________ cardiac output.
• A) Afterload / decreases
• B) Preload / increases
• C) Contractility / decreases
• D) Peripheral resistance / decreases
Answer: B) Increased preload results in a more forceful contraction and increases
cardiac output.
Rationale: Preload refers to the volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of
diastole (stretch). According to the Frank-Starling law, increased preload leads to
increased contractile force and stroke volume .
Question 2: A __________ in cardiac contractility results in lower
______________ and subsequent cardiac output.
• A) Reduction / preload
• B) Increase / afterload
• C) Reduction / afterload
• D) Increase / preload
,Answer: A) A reduction in cardiac contractility results in lower preload and
subsequent cardiac output.
Rationale: Decreased contractility means the heart pumps less effectively, leaving
more blood remaining in the ventricle (increased end-systolic volume), which
reduces preload for the next beat and lowers overall cardiac output .
Question 3: _____________ is a lower blood volume and will result in _________
cardiac output.
• A) Hypervolemia / increased
• B) Hypovolemia / lower
• C) Hypovolemia / increased
• D) Hypervolemia / lower
Answer: B) Hypovolemia is a lower blood volume and will result in lower cardiac
output.
Rationale: Hypovolemia decreases venous return, which decreases preload,
stroke volume, and ultimately cardiac output .
Question 4: __________ resistance increases __________ and increases the
workload on the heart.
• A) Peripheral vascular / afterload
• B) Peripheral vascular / preload
• C) Central venous / afterload
• D) Pulmonary / preload
Answer: A) Peripheral vascular resistance increases afterload and increases the
workload on the heart.
Rationale: Afterload is the resistance the left ventricle must overcome to eject
, blood. Increased PVR (vasoconstriction) increases afterload, making the heart
work harder .
Question 5: What medication classification is used to decrease afterload?
• A) Diuretics
• B) Antihypertensives
• C) Inotropes
• D) Anticoagulants
Answer: B) Antihypertensives (e.g., ACE inhibitors, ARBs, vasodilators) decrease
afterload by dilating arteries and reducing peripheral resistance .
Question 6: What medication classification is used to decrease preload?
• A) Antihypertensives
• B) Inotropes
• C) Diuretics
• D) Beta-blockers
Answer: C) Diuretics decrease preload by reducing blood volume through
increased urinary output .
Question 7: What medication classification is used to increase contractility?
• A) Diuretics
• B) Antihypertensives
• C) Inotropic agents
• D) Beta-blockers
