NURS 3730 MIDTERM PREP UNIT 2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
| NURS 3730 STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Cardiac Output Equation - ✔✔CO = HR x SV
cardiac output - ✔✔volume of blood pumped by each ventricle in one minute
Heart rate - ✔✔Number of contractions of the ventricles each minute
stroke volume - ✔✔The amount of blood ejected from each ventricle with each contraction.
Stroke volume - parts - ✔✔Preload
Afterload
Contractility
Preload - ✔✔•The volume and pressure inside the ventricles at the end of diastole (relaxation)
•Determined by
1)Amount of venous blood returning (volume, and valves)
2)Filling time - heart rate
3)Amount of blood left in ventricle after systole (strength of contraction and resistance)
Afterload - ✔✔•the force required to pump blood OUT of the heart (to the lungs or to the body)
•determined by RESISTANCE in the arteries = BLOOD PRESSURE
•Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)
Contractility - ✔✔•Ability and strength of contraction
•Inotropic mediators (hormones, neurotransmitters)
•Health of the heart - oxygenation, compliance , recoil, conduction
The Pipes - ✔✔-Veins are preload
-Arteries are Afterload
-Dilation: Bigger
-Constriction: Smaller
Atrial Fibrillation - ✔✔-Rapid, random, ineffective contractions of the atrium
-Irregular rate that is typically between 100-160bpm - this is NOT sustainable!
-Get an order for a 12 lead ECG - this confirms the diagnosis!
-Holter monitor - portable ECG worn for 24 hours or more
-Stress test - is it induced by exercise?
paroxysmal - ✔✔occurs at random for a few seconds, a few minutes, or a few days they goes away on
its own
persistent - ✔✔lasts for more than 7 days and will NOT correct on its own
, Permanent - ✔✔has not converted with medications or procedures - patient and clinician make joint
decision to stop further attempts to correct
Atrial Fibrillation - Stable - ✔✔Stable blood pressure
Maintaining perfusion
Tired/fatigued
No changes to mentation/LOC
No respiratory problems
Heart rate fluctuates but not sustained above 100bmp for long
Not a high risk for STOKE
Needs MONITORING and MEDICATIONS
Atrial Fibrillation - Unstable - ✔✔Hypotension - SBP less than 90mmHg
Cardiac ischemia - ECG changes ST elevation
Pulmonary Edema - difficulty breathing, O2 sats dropping
Decreased LOC
Heart rate consistently above 100bmp
High risk for STROKE
EMERGENCY SITUATION - needs immediate interventions like infusions and/or cardioversion
Atrial Fibrillation - what we want to promote - ✔✔•Normal sinus rhythm
•Ventricular rates between 55-100bmp
•Therapeutic anticoagulation
•Quality of life - energy, ADL's
•Education
Atrial Fibrillation - Priority Goals of Care - ✔✔#1 Rate Control
#2 Rhythm Control
#3 Anticoagulation
How we do rate control Atrial Fibrillation? - ✔✔•Beta blockers (olol's) - slow heart rate, reduce
contractility, reduce blood pressure (ex: atenolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol, propranolol, labetalol,
carvedilol, sotalol)
•Calcium channel blockers - slows ventricular rate, relaxes arteries (ex: Diltiazem, Verapamil)
•Cardiac glycosides - adjunct therapy, slower onset of action, needs regular blood work (ex: digoxin)
How we do rhythm control Atrial Fibrillation? - ✔✔Medications - affect ion channels and adrenergic
receptors
(Amiodarone - most common, usually taken once daily/ Propafenone - immediate release or extended
release)
Cardioversion - electric shock to 'reset' the heart
Ablation - Catheters with a wire is threaded into the heart and areas are 'burned' or 'frozen' so that they
can no longer fire or receive electrical impulses
| NURS 3730 STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Cardiac Output Equation - ✔✔CO = HR x SV
cardiac output - ✔✔volume of blood pumped by each ventricle in one minute
Heart rate - ✔✔Number of contractions of the ventricles each minute
stroke volume - ✔✔The amount of blood ejected from each ventricle with each contraction.
Stroke volume - parts - ✔✔Preload
Afterload
Contractility
Preload - ✔✔•The volume and pressure inside the ventricles at the end of diastole (relaxation)
•Determined by
1)Amount of venous blood returning (volume, and valves)
2)Filling time - heart rate
3)Amount of blood left in ventricle after systole (strength of contraction and resistance)
Afterload - ✔✔•the force required to pump blood OUT of the heart (to the lungs or to the body)
•determined by RESISTANCE in the arteries = BLOOD PRESSURE
•Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)
Contractility - ✔✔•Ability and strength of contraction
•Inotropic mediators (hormones, neurotransmitters)
•Health of the heart - oxygenation, compliance , recoil, conduction
The Pipes - ✔✔-Veins are preload
-Arteries are Afterload
-Dilation: Bigger
-Constriction: Smaller
Atrial Fibrillation - ✔✔-Rapid, random, ineffective contractions of the atrium
-Irregular rate that is typically between 100-160bpm - this is NOT sustainable!
-Get an order for a 12 lead ECG - this confirms the diagnosis!
-Holter monitor - portable ECG worn for 24 hours or more
-Stress test - is it induced by exercise?
paroxysmal - ✔✔occurs at random for a few seconds, a few minutes, or a few days they goes away on
its own
persistent - ✔✔lasts for more than 7 days and will NOT correct on its own
, Permanent - ✔✔has not converted with medications or procedures - patient and clinician make joint
decision to stop further attempts to correct
Atrial Fibrillation - Stable - ✔✔Stable blood pressure
Maintaining perfusion
Tired/fatigued
No changes to mentation/LOC
No respiratory problems
Heart rate fluctuates but not sustained above 100bmp for long
Not a high risk for STOKE
Needs MONITORING and MEDICATIONS
Atrial Fibrillation - Unstable - ✔✔Hypotension - SBP less than 90mmHg
Cardiac ischemia - ECG changes ST elevation
Pulmonary Edema - difficulty breathing, O2 sats dropping
Decreased LOC
Heart rate consistently above 100bmp
High risk for STROKE
EMERGENCY SITUATION - needs immediate interventions like infusions and/or cardioversion
Atrial Fibrillation - what we want to promote - ✔✔•Normal sinus rhythm
•Ventricular rates between 55-100bmp
•Therapeutic anticoagulation
•Quality of life - energy, ADL's
•Education
Atrial Fibrillation - Priority Goals of Care - ✔✔#1 Rate Control
#2 Rhythm Control
#3 Anticoagulation
How we do rate control Atrial Fibrillation? - ✔✔•Beta blockers (olol's) - slow heart rate, reduce
contractility, reduce blood pressure (ex: atenolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol, propranolol, labetalol,
carvedilol, sotalol)
•Calcium channel blockers - slows ventricular rate, relaxes arteries (ex: Diltiazem, Verapamil)
•Cardiac glycosides - adjunct therapy, slower onset of action, needs regular blood work (ex: digoxin)
How we do rhythm control Atrial Fibrillation? - ✔✔Medications - affect ion channels and adrenergic
receptors
(Amiodarone - most common, usually taken once daily/ Propafenone - immediate release or extended
release)
Cardioversion - electric shock to 'reset' the heart
Ablation - Catheters with a wire is threaded into the heart and areas are 'burned' or 'frozen' so that they
can no longer fire or receive electrical impulses
