Cardiovascular and Critical Care Nursing Examination Covering Cardiac Output
and Cardiac Index Calculations, Preload Afterload and Myocardial Contractility
Regulation, Stroke Volume Hemodynamics, Positive and Negative Inotropic
Effects, Chronotropic and Dromotropic Drug Actions, Vasopressor Therapy and
Mean Arterial Pressure Control, Heart Failure Pathophysiology and BNP
Diagnostics, Troponin and CK-MB Myocardial Injury Biomarkers, S3 and S4 Heart
Sounds Interpretation, Echocardiography and Transesophageal Echocardiogram
Monitoring, Exercise Stress Testing and Cardiac Catheterization Procedures,
Electrophysiology Study for Dysrhythmia Evaluation, Valvular Stenosis
Regurgitation and Prolapse Disorders, ACE Inhibitor and Beta Blocker Heart
Failure Therapy, Cardiogenic Shock Recognition and Management, Hypertensive
Urgency and Hypertensive Emergency Interventions, Target Organ Damage in
Severe Hypertension, Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic Dissection Pathophysiology
Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales
Latest Updated 2026
Cardiac output
HR x SV
Cardiac index
More accurate
CO/BSA
Preload
End of diastole
,Affected by volume of blood delivered
Causes of low preload
Hemorrhage, dehydration, vasodilation, third spacing
Causes of high preload
Heart failure, volume overload
Clinical manifestations of increased preload
Kidney failure
Excessive IV fluids
Excessive sodium intake
RAAS
Increased work of breathing
Peripheral edema
JVD
Clinical manifestations of decreased preload
Diaphoresis
Pale
Hypotension
Hypovolemia— hemorrhage, diuretic use, third spacing
, Afterlad
Resistance ventricles pump blood against
Afterload increases
SV decreases, CO decreases, BP increases
Causes of increased afterload
Aortic or pulmonic stenosis
Vasoconstriction
Afterload decreases
SV increases, CO increases, SBP low
Cause of decreased afterload
Vasodilation
Clinical manifestations of increased afterload
Abnormal heart tones from valvular stenosis
Sympathetic response
and Cardiac Index Calculations, Preload Afterload and Myocardial Contractility
Regulation, Stroke Volume Hemodynamics, Positive and Negative Inotropic
Effects, Chronotropic and Dromotropic Drug Actions, Vasopressor Therapy and
Mean Arterial Pressure Control, Heart Failure Pathophysiology and BNP
Diagnostics, Troponin and CK-MB Myocardial Injury Biomarkers, S3 and S4 Heart
Sounds Interpretation, Echocardiography and Transesophageal Echocardiogram
Monitoring, Exercise Stress Testing and Cardiac Catheterization Procedures,
Electrophysiology Study for Dysrhythmia Evaluation, Valvular Stenosis
Regurgitation and Prolapse Disorders, ACE Inhibitor and Beta Blocker Heart
Failure Therapy, Cardiogenic Shock Recognition and Management, Hypertensive
Urgency and Hypertensive Emergency Interventions, Target Organ Damage in
Severe Hypertension, Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic Dissection Pathophysiology
Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales
Latest Updated 2026
Cardiac output
HR x SV
Cardiac index
More accurate
CO/BSA
Preload
End of diastole
,Affected by volume of blood delivered
Causes of low preload
Hemorrhage, dehydration, vasodilation, third spacing
Causes of high preload
Heart failure, volume overload
Clinical manifestations of increased preload
Kidney failure
Excessive IV fluids
Excessive sodium intake
RAAS
Increased work of breathing
Peripheral edema
JVD
Clinical manifestations of decreased preload
Diaphoresis
Pale
Hypotension
Hypovolemia— hemorrhage, diuretic use, third spacing
, Afterlad
Resistance ventricles pump blood against
Afterload increases
SV decreases, CO decreases, BP increases
Causes of increased afterload
Aortic or pulmonic stenosis
Vasoconstriction
Afterload decreases
SV increases, CO increases, SBP low
Cause of decreased afterload
Vasodilation
Clinical manifestations of increased afterload
Abnormal heart tones from valvular stenosis
Sympathetic response
