CRNA Interview EXAM (2026)
QUESTIONS AND (DETAILED
ANSWERS) WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Norepinephrine Mechanism of Action (MOA) - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔A1, A2, B1
agonist.
Primary agent used in distributive shock because it's ability to recruit
venous volume and augment preload, while increasing arterial tone, and
increasing cardiac output.
,Alpha one causing peripheral smooth muscle contraction. (low dose
venous, high dose venous and arterial).
Alpha 2 adrenoreceptor agonism actually antagonizes the release of
norepinephrine in the CNS, but these receptors are less present in
peripheral vasculature and thus, their anti-hypertensive effects are
overtaken by A1 agonism.
These alpha effects can increase SVR and thereby increase cardiac
workload, decrease cardiac output, and increase coronary perfusion
pressure.
The slight B1 agonism increases inotropy and chonotropy sufficiently to
overcome these A1 effects and result in a fairly "pure" vasopressor.
Increasing contraction of the heart and increasing AV nodal conduction.
**First line agent in septic shock
,Epinephrine MOA - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔A1
A2
B1 - Stimulate Heart Rate through SA node, increase conduction through
AV node. Increase contractility to ATRIAL and VENTRICULAR cardiac
muscle.
B2 - Smooth muscle relaxation. Resulting in dilation of the bronchial tree,
coronary arterial dilation. Also plays a role in insulin and glucagon secretion
in the pancreas. Also increases cardiac inotropy/chonotropy
B3 - Increase lypolysis and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue.
**Cardiogenic shock or other shock states with a cardiac component.
Adjunctive therapy in severe septic shock
IVP in cardiac arrest to augment CPP
COPYRIGHT©PROFFKERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2026. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE.
PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, IVP while introducing PPV/intubation
Precedex MOA - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Dexmetatomadine is an alpha 2
adrenoreceptor agonist that acts both on the presynaptic neuron and
postsynaptic neuron. Inihibiting norepinephrine release pre-synaptically
reduces/halts the transmission of pain, while postsynaptically acts to
reduce sympathetic tone. The combination of these effects is anesthesia
with analgesia and anxiolysis.
loading dose is 1 mg/kg while gtt is .2-1.5 mg/kg/hr
**This agent is often used for patients who would not tolerate a precipitous
drop in their sympathetic tone, for those patients in severe alcohol
withdrawal.
propofol MOA - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Propofol is a lypophylic general anesthetic
unlike any drugs of the class benodiazapen, barbituate, or A2 agonist. Its
mechanism is proposed to be a GABA (inhibitory neurotransmitter) agonist
causing global CNS depression
QUESTIONS AND (DETAILED
ANSWERS) WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Norepinephrine Mechanism of Action (MOA) - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔A1, A2, B1
agonist.
Primary agent used in distributive shock because it's ability to recruit
venous volume and augment preload, while increasing arterial tone, and
increasing cardiac output.
,Alpha one causing peripheral smooth muscle contraction. (low dose
venous, high dose venous and arterial).
Alpha 2 adrenoreceptor agonism actually antagonizes the release of
norepinephrine in the CNS, but these receptors are less present in
peripheral vasculature and thus, their anti-hypertensive effects are
overtaken by A1 agonism.
These alpha effects can increase SVR and thereby increase cardiac
workload, decrease cardiac output, and increase coronary perfusion
pressure.
The slight B1 agonism increases inotropy and chonotropy sufficiently to
overcome these A1 effects and result in a fairly "pure" vasopressor.
Increasing contraction of the heart and increasing AV nodal conduction.
**First line agent in septic shock
,Epinephrine MOA - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔A1
A2
B1 - Stimulate Heart Rate through SA node, increase conduction through
AV node. Increase contractility to ATRIAL and VENTRICULAR cardiac
muscle.
B2 - Smooth muscle relaxation. Resulting in dilation of the bronchial tree,
coronary arterial dilation. Also plays a role in insulin and glucagon secretion
in the pancreas. Also increases cardiac inotropy/chonotropy
B3 - Increase lypolysis and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue.
**Cardiogenic shock or other shock states with a cardiac component.
Adjunctive therapy in severe septic shock
IVP in cardiac arrest to augment CPP
COPYRIGHT©PROFFKERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2026. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE.
PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, IVP while introducing PPV/intubation
Precedex MOA - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Dexmetatomadine is an alpha 2
adrenoreceptor agonist that acts both on the presynaptic neuron and
postsynaptic neuron. Inihibiting norepinephrine release pre-synaptically
reduces/halts the transmission of pain, while postsynaptically acts to
reduce sympathetic tone. The combination of these effects is anesthesia
with analgesia and anxiolysis.
loading dose is 1 mg/kg while gtt is .2-1.5 mg/kg/hr
**This agent is often used for patients who would not tolerate a precipitous
drop in their sympathetic tone, for those patients in severe alcohol
withdrawal.
propofol MOA - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Propofol is a lypophylic general anesthetic
unlike any drugs of the class benodiazapen, barbituate, or A2 agonist. Its
mechanism is proposed to be a GABA (inhibitory neurotransmitter) agonist
causing global CNS depression
