PCCN PRACTICE SOLUTION EXAM REVIEW
2026 STUDY SHEET COMPLETE Q&A
⩥ What is the RIGHT VENTRICLE PRELOAD assessed by?
Answer: CVP (Central venous pressure)
(Normal is approx. 2 - 8 mmhg)
⩥ What is a normal central venous pressure ? Answer: Approximately
2 - 8 mmhg
⩥ What is the LEFT VENTRICLE PRELOAD assessed by? Answer:
PAOP (Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure) / PAW pulmonary artery
wedge pressure
-Swans ganns in placed wedge pressure (PA)
⩥ What are the signs and symptoms of an altered preload? Answer: 1.
Dehydration (decreased preload)
2. Fluid overload (increased preload)
⩥ What are some causes of a low preload? Answer: 1. Hemorrhage
2. Dehydration
3. Burns
,4. Over-diuresis
5. Third spacing (fluid moving into spaces they shouldn't be)
⩥ What are some causes of high preload? Answer: 1. Hypervolemia
2. Heart failure
3. Renal failure
4. Pulmonary HTN
5. Tamponade
6. Tension pneumothorax
(most likely seen in right ventricle preload)
⩥ What are the venous dilating drugs? Answer: 1. NITRO (given to
drop preload)
2. ACE I/ARB
3. Ca-Channel blocker
⩥ Which venous dilating drug is given to drop the preload amount?
Answer: Nitro
⩥ What are some causes that can alter the vascular space? Answer: 1.
Sepsis
2. Neurogenic shock
3. Anaphylaxis
, 4. Warming after cardiac surgery
5. Venous dilating drugs
⩥ What part of the circulatory system determines the afterload?
Answer: Arteries
⩥ Afterload determines the functions of the __________ Answer:
ARTERIES
⩥ RIGHT VENTRICLE AFTERLOAD is assessed by Answer: PVR
(pulmonary vascular resistance)
Normal is 20 - 200 dynes /sec/cm2
⩥ What is a normal range for pulmonary vascular resistance Answer:
Normal is 20 - 200 dynes / sec / cm2
⩥ What is the LEFT VENTRICLE AFTERLOAD assessed by?
Answer: SVR (systemic vascular resistance)
Normal is 800 - 1600 dynes / sec / cm2
⩥ What is a normal range for systemic vascular resistance Answer:
Normal is 800 - 1600 dynes / sec / cm2
2026 STUDY SHEET COMPLETE Q&A
⩥ What is the RIGHT VENTRICLE PRELOAD assessed by?
Answer: CVP (Central venous pressure)
(Normal is approx. 2 - 8 mmhg)
⩥ What is a normal central venous pressure ? Answer: Approximately
2 - 8 mmhg
⩥ What is the LEFT VENTRICLE PRELOAD assessed by? Answer:
PAOP (Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure) / PAW pulmonary artery
wedge pressure
-Swans ganns in placed wedge pressure (PA)
⩥ What are the signs and symptoms of an altered preload? Answer: 1.
Dehydration (decreased preload)
2. Fluid overload (increased preload)
⩥ What are some causes of a low preload? Answer: 1. Hemorrhage
2. Dehydration
3. Burns
,4. Over-diuresis
5. Third spacing (fluid moving into spaces they shouldn't be)
⩥ What are some causes of high preload? Answer: 1. Hypervolemia
2. Heart failure
3. Renal failure
4. Pulmonary HTN
5. Tamponade
6. Tension pneumothorax
(most likely seen in right ventricle preload)
⩥ What are the venous dilating drugs? Answer: 1. NITRO (given to
drop preload)
2. ACE I/ARB
3. Ca-Channel blocker
⩥ Which venous dilating drug is given to drop the preload amount?
Answer: Nitro
⩥ What are some causes that can alter the vascular space? Answer: 1.
Sepsis
2. Neurogenic shock
3. Anaphylaxis
, 4. Warming after cardiac surgery
5. Venous dilating drugs
⩥ What part of the circulatory system determines the afterload?
Answer: Arteries
⩥ Afterload determines the functions of the __________ Answer:
ARTERIES
⩥ RIGHT VENTRICLE AFTERLOAD is assessed by Answer: PVR
(pulmonary vascular resistance)
Normal is 20 - 200 dynes /sec/cm2
⩥ What is a normal range for pulmonary vascular resistance Answer:
Normal is 20 - 200 dynes / sec / cm2
⩥ What is the LEFT VENTRICLE AFTERLOAD assessed by?
Answer: SVR (systemic vascular resistance)
Normal is 800 - 1600 dynes / sec / cm2
⩥ What is a normal range for systemic vascular resistance Answer:
Normal is 800 - 1600 dynes / sec / cm2
