American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

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What is the main effect of a chronotrope?

Change in heart rate
Increase myocardial oxygen demand
Decrease cardiac output
Alter blood pressure

The correct answer is: Change in heart rate

The main effect of a chronotrope is indeed a change in heart rate. Chronotropic agents specifically influence the pacing of the heart through their effects on the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is responsible for initiating heartbeats. Positive chronotropes increase the heart rate, while negative chronotropes decrease it. This is crucial in various clinical scenarios where adjusting the heart rate can improve cardiac output and ensure adequate blood flow to tissues. While factors like myocardial oxygen demand and cardiac output are indeed related to heart function, they are not direct effects of chronotropic agents but rather secondary outcomes influenced by the heart rate. Likewise, alterations in blood pressure can occur due to changes in heart rate but are not the primary role of chronotropic effects.