Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Test 2025 - Free CEN Practice Questions and Study Guide

Milrinone, marketed under the brand name Primacor, is primarily used as a positive inotrope for heart failure. It works by enhancing the heart's contractility, which means it increases the strength of the heart's contractions. This action is particularly beneficial in patients with heart failure, where the heart's pumping ability is compromised.

In addition to its inotropic effects, milrinone also has vasodilatory properties, which helps to reduce the workload on the heart by lowering systemic vascular resistance. This combination of increased contractility and decreased afterload can improve cardiac output and overall hemodynamics in patients experiencing acute decompensated heart failure.

Other medications mentioned in the answer choices serve different functions. Diuretics, for instance, are primarily used to reduce fluid overload by promoting urine production, while antihypertensives target blood pressure control. Vasopressors are agents that typically constrict blood vessels to increase blood pressure but do not enhance cardiac contractility in the same way that milrinone does. Understanding the specific role of milrinone in the management of heart failure is crucial for effective emergency nursing practice.