CCRN Questions
and Answers Latest
2026
Cardiac function
# Term Definition
1 Cardiac output
The amount of blood ejected by the ventricle in one
minute
2 Cardiac index
Cardiac output indexed for differences in body size by
dividing by body surface area
3 Stroke volume
The amount of blood ejected by the ventricle with each
contraction
4 Stroke index
The stroke volume indexed for differences in body size by
dividing by body surface area
5 Ejection fraction
Percentage of blood in the ventricle that is ejected
during systole. Normal 55 to 75%.
6 Afterload
The pressure against which the ventricle must pump. The
pressure required to open the semi lunar valve.
7 Preload
The volume of blood in the ventricle at the end of
diastole; determines the stretch on the myofibrils and
the subsequent force of the next contraction.
, CCRN
8 Contractility
The force and velocity of the injection of blood from the
ventricle independent of preload and afterload
9 List several factors that cause increased
heart rate SNS stimulation, example: exercise, fever, infection, pain,
anxiety, hypervolemia, hypervolemia. Drug effects,
example: epinephrine, dopamine.
10 List several factors that decrease heart
rate PNS vagal stimulation, example: Valsalva maneuver,
coughing, suctioning, vomiting, carotid stimulation.
Conduction abnormalities, example: sinus arrest or
block, second or 3rd° AV block's, caused by ischemia,
infarction, or inflammation. Drug effects, example: beta
blockers, digoxin.
# Term Definition
11 List ways to increase heart rate
Treatment of cause, example: reperfusion therapies for
my cardio infarction, anti-emetics for vomiting.
Parasympatholytic drugs, example: atropine.
Sympathomimetic drugs, example: epinephrine.
Pacemaker.
12 List ways to decrease heart rate
Treatment of cause, example: antipyretics for fever,
analgesics for pain, anxiolytics for anxiety. Dependent on
rhythm: – Cardiac glycosides (digoxin) – Beta blockers,
example: propanolol, esmolol – Calcium channel
blocker's, example: verapamil, diltiazem – Other
antidysrhythmic
drugs dependent on rhythm – Vagal
maneuver's, overdrive pacemaker, ablation –
Cardioversion or defibrillation
13 How is preload evaluated? PAOP (LV) RAP (RV)
14 What causes increased preload?
Heart failure, hypervolemia, Brady dysrhythmias [Hint:
Reminder: preload is the amount of blood in the
ventricle at end diastole, right before it empties.]
and Answers Latest
2026
Cardiac function
# Term Definition
1 Cardiac output
The amount of blood ejected by the ventricle in one
minute
2 Cardiac index
Cardiac output indexed for differences in body size by
dividing by body surface area
3 Stroke volume
The amount of blood ejected by the ventricle with each
contraction
4 Stroke index
The stroke volume indexed for differences in body size by
dividing by body surface area
5 Ejection fraction
Percentage of blood in the ventricle that is ejected
during systole. Normal 55 to 75%.
6 Afterload
The pressure against which the ventricle must pump. The
pressure required to open the semi lunar valve.
7 Preload
The volume of blood in the ventricle at the end of
diastole; determines the stretch on the myofibrils and
the subsequent force of the next contraction.
, CCRN
8 Contractility
The force and velocity of the injection of blood from the
ventricle independent of preload and afterload
9 List several factors that cause increased
heart rate SNS stimulation, example: exercise, fever, infection, pain,
anxiety, hypervolemia, hypervolemia. Drug effects,
example: epinephrine, dopamine.
10 List several factors that decrease heart
rate PNS vagal stimulation, example: Valsalva maneuver,
coughing, suctioning, vomiting, carotid stimulation.
Conduction abnormalities, example: sinus arrest or
block, second or 3rd° AV block's, caused by ischemia,
infarction, or inflammation. Drug effects, example: beta
blockers, digoxin.
# Term Definition
11 List ways to increase heart rate
Treatment of cause, example: reperfusion therapies for
my cardio infarction, anti-emetics for vomiting.
Parasympatholytic drugs, example: atropine.
Sympathomimetic drugs, example: epinephrine.
Pacemaker.
12 List ways to decrease heart rate
Treatment of cause, example: antipyretics for fever,
analgesics for pain, anxiolytics for anxiety. Dependent on
rhythm: – Cardiac glycosides (digoxin) – Beta blockers,
example: propanolol, esmolol – Calcium channel
blocker's, example: verapamil, diltiazem – Other
antidysrhythmic
drugs dependent on rhythm – Vagal
maneuver's, overdrive pacemaker, ablation –
Cardioversion or defibrillation
13 How is preload evaluated? PAOP (LV) RAP (RV)
14 What causes increased preload?
Heart failure, hypervolemia, Brady dysrhythmias [Hint:
Reminder: preload is the amount of blood in the
ventricle at end diastole, right before it empties.]
