Pam Bartley CEN Study Guide – Cardiology: Emergency Nursing Cardiac Review Questions, Key
Concepts & Exam Prep
Cardiac output - correct answer ✔✔stroke volume x heart rate (amount of blood ejected per
contraction)
Primary compensatory mechanism for low cardiac output in peds - correct answer
✔✔Tachycardia
Late sign of low CO - correct answer ✔✔Hypotension, bradycardia is ominous sign in peds
What is stroke volume influenced by - correct answer ✔✔afterload, preload, contractility
Preload - correct answer ✔✔volume evaluated by CVP
How to increase preload - correct answer ✔✔volume (blood/fluids), pressprs
How to decrease preload - correct answer ✔✔diuretics
What is afterload - correct answer ✔✔resistance to ventricular emptying, measured by systemic
vascular resistance
When is afterload decreased and how would you treat - correct answer ✔✔distributive shocks
(neurogenic, septic, anaphylactic) and by vasodilators- give them vasopressors
How would you decrease afterload - correct answer ✔✔vasodilators
when is afterload increased - correct answer ✔✔HTN, shock compensation
, SNS stimulation releases what - correct answer ✔✔epinephrine, catecholamines, norepi-
increases HR, vasoconstriction, pupil dilation, catecholamines increase BSG through
glycogenesis
Parasympathetic system does what - correct answer ✔✔Decreases HR
MAP equation - correct answer ✔✔(SBP + 2DBP)/3
Pulse pressure - correct answer ✔✔difference between systolic and diastolic pressure
Widened PP seen in... - correct answer ✔✔increased ICP
Narrowed PP seen in.... - correct answer ✔✔early stages of shock
Cushing's triad indicates what and what are the signs - correct answer ✔✔Increased ICP,
widened PP (or HTN), irregular breathing pattern, and bradycardia
What do chronotropes do and what is an example - correct answer ✔✔Control HR- cardizem is
a negative chronotrope, atropine positive
What do inotropes do and what is an example - correct answer ✔✔Affect contractility-
dobutamine and dopamine are positive inotropes
What do dromotropes do and what is an example - correct answer ✔✔Control automaticity-
positive dromotrope is epi, negative dromotrope is beta blockers
Concepts & Exam Prep
Cardiac output - correct answer ✔✔stroke volume x heart rate (amount of blood ejected per
contraction)
Primary compensatory mechanism for low cardiac output in peds - correct answer
✔✔Tachycardia
Late sign of low CO - correct answer ✔✔Hypotension, bradycardia is ominous sign in peds
What is stroke volume influenced by - correct answer ✔✔afterload, preload, contractility
Preload - correct answer ✔✔volume evaluated by CVP
How to increase preload - correct answer ✔✔volume (blood/fluids), pressprs
How to decrease preload - correct answer ✔✔diuretics
What is afterload - correct answer ✔✔resistance to ventricular emptying, measured by systemic
vascular resistance
When is afterload decreased and how would you treat - correct answer ✔✔distributive shocks
(neurogenic, septic, anaphylactic) and by vasodilators- give them vasopressors
How would you decrease afterload - correct answer ✔✔vasodilators
when is afterload increased - correct answer ✔✔HTN, shock compensation
, SNS stimulation releases what - correct answer ✔✔epinephrine, catecholamines, norepi-
increases HR, vasoconstriction, pupil dilation, catecholamines increase BSG through
glycogenesis
Parasympathetic system does what - correct answer ✔✔Decreases HR
MAP equation - correct answer ✔✔(SBP + 2DBP)/3
Pulse pressure - correct answer ✔✔difference between systolic and diastolic pressure
Widened PP seen in... - correct answer ✔✔increased ICP
Narrowed PP seen in.... - correct answer ✔✔early stages of shock
Cushing's triad indicates what and what are the signs - correct answer ✔✔Increased ICP,
widened PP (or HTN), irregular breathing pattern, and bradycardia
What do chronotropes do and what is an example - correct answer ✔✔Control HR- cardizem is
a negative chronotrope, atropine positive
What do inotropes do and what is an example - correct answer ✔✔Affect contractility-
dobutamine and dopamine are positive inotropes
What do dromotropes do and what is an example - correct answer ✔✔Control automaticity-
positive dromotrope is epi, negative dromotrope is beta blockers
