CRNA Practice Questions – Study Guide, Mock Questions & Exam Revision
What is Epinephrine used for? - ANS ✔✔To treat anaphylaxis, sudden cardiac arrest, inotropic
support
How does Epinephrine work? - ANS ✔✔Stimulates sympatric nervous system: Increase HR,
Increase BP, myocardial contractility (Positive Inotrope). Bronchodilation
What receptors does Epinephrine act on? - ANS ✔✔Alpha 1, Beta 1 & 2.
Alpha 1: Increased contractility and smooth muscle constriction.
Beta 1 & 2: Bronchodilation
What is phenylephrine (neosynephrine) used for? - ANS ✔✔Vasoconstriction in the ICU Setting
How does neosynephrine work? - ANS ✔✔When given through IV, it causes vasoconstriction
and increases blood pressure. Helps to increase cardiac output
What receptors does neosynephrine act on? - ANS ✔✔Alpha-1 Receptors, Causing smooth
muscle contraction
What is norepinephrine used for? - ANS ✔✔To increase blood pressure in septic, cardiogenic,
AKI, or post-cardiac arrest patients.
How does norepinephrine work? - ANS ✔✔Stimulates alpha and beta-1 adrenergic receptors to
increase smooth muscle contracility. ^ Blood pressure
What is milrinone used for? - ANS ✔✔Cardiogenic shock, right heart failure. Helps to dilate the
pulmonary artery.
, How does milrinone work? - ANS ✔✔Milrinone is a Phosphodiesterase Inhibiter, which causes
increased contractility, dilates the PA, and leads to improved cardiac output.
What is vasopressin used for? - ANS ✔✔^ BP in septic shock, to help decrease UO in DI, GI
Hemorrhage
how does vasopressin work? - ANS ✔✔Since vasopressin is antidiuretic hormone, it helps to
reabsorb water, increasing blood pressure.
What is dopamine used for? - ANS ✔✔To treat bradycardia, to help treat shock, and as a
positive inotrope.
How does Dopamine work? - ANS ✔✔Stimulates adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors.
Higher doses stimulate Beta-1 Receptors, causing increase in contractility (inotropic effect)
What is dobutamine used for? - ANS ✔✔To increase CO during heart failure, Inotropic support
How does dobutamine work? - ANS ✔✔stimulates beta-receptors for myocardial strength
When is dopamine used over dobutamine? - ANS ✔✔Dobutamine helps to solve a low-cardiac
output
What is nitroprusside used for? - ANS ✔✔Antihypertensive, Vasodilator. Used in aortic
dissections, acute heart failure, hypertensive emergencies
How does nitroprusside work? - ANS ✔✔Acts on venous and arterial smooth muscle. Reduces
afterload, increasing cardiac output.
What is Epinephrine used for? - ANS ✔✔To treat anaphylaxis, sudden cardiac arrest, inotropic
support
How does Epinephrine work? - ANS ✔✔Stimulates sympatric nervous system: Increase HR,
Increase BP, myocardial contractility (Positive Inotrope). Bronchodilation
What receptors does Epinephrine act on? - ANS ✔✔Alpha 1, Beta 1 & 2.
Alpha 1: Increased contractility and smooth muscle constriction.
Beta 1 & 2: Bronchodilation
What is phenylephrine (neosynephrine) used for? - ANS ✔✔Vasoconstriction in the ICU Setting
How does neosynephrine work? - ANS ✔✔When given through IV, it causes vasoconstriction
and increases blood pressure. Helps to increase cardiac output
What receptors does neosynephrine act on? - ANS ✔✔Alpha-1 Receptors, Causing smooth
muscle contraction
What is norepinephrine used for? - ANS ✔✔To increase blood pressure in septic, cardiogenic,
AKI, or post-cardiac arrest patients.
How does norepinephrine work? - ANS ✔✔Stimulates alpha and beta-1 adrenergic receptors to
increase smooth muscle contracility. ^ Blood pressure
What is milrinone used for? - ANS ✔✔Cardiogenic shock, right heart failure. Helps to dilate the
pulmonary artery.
, How does milrinone work? - ANS ✔✔Milrinone is a Phosphodiesterase Inhibiter, which causes
increased contractility, dilates the PA, and leads to improved cardiac output.
What is vasopressin used for? - ANS ✔✔^ BP in septic shock, to help decrease UO in DI, GI
Hemorrhage
how does vasopressin work? - ANS ✔✔Since vasopressin is antidiuretic hormone, it helps to
reabsorb water, increasing blood pressure.
What is dopamine used for? - ANS ✔✔To treat bradycardia, to help treat shock, and as a
positive inotrope.
How does Dopamine work? - ANS ✔✔Stimulates adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors.
Higher doses stimulate Beta-1 Receptors, causing increase in contractility (inotropic effect)
What is dobutamine used for? - ANS ✔✔To increase CO during heart failure, Inotropic support
How does dobutamine work? - ANS ✔✔stimulates beta-receptors for myocardial strength
When is dopamine used over dobutamine? - ANS ✔✔Dobutamine helps to solve a low-cardiac
output
What is nitroprusside used for? - ANS ✔✔Antihypertensive, Vasodilator. Used in aortic
dissections, acute heart failure, hypertensive emergencies
How does nitroprusside work? - ANS ✔✔Acts on venous and arterial smooth muscle. Reduces
afterload, increasing cardiac output.
