Ch 21 Cardiac

The nurse finds that an infant has stronger pulses in the upper extremities than in the lower extremities, and higher blood pressure readings in the arms than in the legs. Which assessment will the nurse perform next on this infant? 1. Pedal pulses 2. Pulse oximetry level 3. Hemoglobin and hematocrit values 4. Blood pressure of the four extremities

Correct Answer: 4 Rationale 1: Coarctation of the aorta can present with stronger pulses in the upper extremities than in the lower extremities and higher blood pressure readings in the arms than in the legs because of obstruction of circulation to the lower extremities. Blood pressure values of the four limbs should be the next assessment data collected. Pedal pulses, pulse oximetry, and labs themselves will not provide the data needed.

The nurse has admitted a child with tricuspid atresia. The nurse would expect which initial lab result? 1. A high hemoglobin 2. A low hematocrit 3. A high white blood cell count 4. A low platelet count

Correct Answer: 1 Rationale 1: The child's bone marrow responds to chronic hypoxemia by producing more red blood cells to increase the amount of hemoglobin available to carry oxygen to the tissues. This occurs in cases of cyanotic heart defects such as tricuspid atresia. Therefore, the hematocrit would not be low, the white blood cell count would not be high (unless an infection were present), and the platelets would be normal.

The nurse admits a child with a ventricular septal defect (VSD) to the unit. Which nursing diagnosis for this child is the most appropriate? 1. Impaired Gas Exchange Related to Pulmonary Congestion Secondary to the Increased Pulmonary Blood Flow 2. Deficient Fluid Volume Related to Hyperthermia Secondary to the Congenital Heart Defect 3. Acute Pain Related to the Effects of a Congenital Heart Defect 4. Hypothermia Related to Decreased Metabolic State

Correct Answer: 1 Rationale 1: Because of the increased pulmonary congestion, Impaired Gas Exchange would be an appropriate nursing diagnosis. Ventricular septal defects do not cause pain, fever, or deficient fluid volume.

The nurse is performing the initial assessment of a child newly diagnosed Kawasaki disease. Which symptoms would the nurse expect to assess with this child? 1. Dry, swollen, fissured lips 2. Non-palpable lymph nodes 3. Conjunctivitis with exudates 4. Cyanosis of the hands and feet

Correct Answer: 1 Rationale 1: Dry, swollen, fissured lips are symptoms of Kawasaki disease. Lymph nodes can be palpable, conjunctivitis is present but without exudates, and hands and feet are typically erythematous.

A child is admitted with infective endocarditis. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate for this child? 1. Start an intravenous line. 2. Place the child in contact isolation. 3. Place the child on seizure precautions. 4. Assist with a lumbar puncture.

Correct Answer: 1 Rationale 1: Infective endocarditis is treated with intravenous antibiotics for two to eight weeks. It is not contagious, so the child is not placed in contact isolation. Seizures are not a risk of infective endocarditis. A lumbar puncture is not a diagnostic test done for infective endocarditis.

The mother of a child with a heart defect is questioning the nurse about the child's diuretic. When teaching the mother about the medication, what should the emphasis from the nurse? 1. Close monitoring of output 2. The digitalization process 3. The possibility that pulses in the child might be weak 4. The child's increased appetite

Correct Answer: 1 Rationale 1: It is important to monitor the output of the child on a diuretic to determine effectiveness of the drug. Digitalization pulses are not associated with diuretics. The child will usually have a decreased appetite.

The nurse is admitting an infant diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia. Which intervention is the priority for this infant? 1. Apply ice to the face. 2. Perform Valsalva's maneuver. 3. Administer a beta blocker. 4. Prepare for cardioversion.

Correct Answer: 1 Rationale 1: Supraventricular tachycardia episodes are initially treated with vagal maneuvers to slow the heart rate when the infant is stable. In stable infants, the application of ice or iced saline solution to the face can reduce the heart rate. The infant is not capable of performing Valsalva's maneuver. Calcium channel blockers, not beta blockers, are the drugs of choice. Cardioversion is used in an urgent situation, but is not typically the initial treatment.

An infant with tetralogy of Fallot is having a hypercyanotic episode ("tet" spell). Which nursing interventions are appropriate for the nurse to implement for this infant? Standard Text: Select all that apply. 1. Place the child in knee-chest position. 2. Draw blood for a serum hemoglobin. 3. Administer oxygen. 4. Administer morphine and propranolol intravenously as ordered. 5. Administer Benadryl as ordered.

Correct Answer: 1,3,4 Rationale 1: When an infant with tetralogy of Fallot has a hypercyanotic episode, interventions should be geared toward decreasing the pulmonary vascular resistance. Therefore, the nurse would place the infant in knee-chest position (to decrease venous blood return from the lower extremities), and administer oxygen, morphine, and propranolol (to decrease the pulmonary vascular resistance). The nurse would not draw blood until the episode had subsided, because unpleasant procedures are postponed. Benadryl is not appropriate for this child.

The nurse is providing care to a school-age client admitted to the emergency department following a motor vehicle crash. The client is exhibiting symptoms of hypovolemic shock. Which nursing interventions are appropriate for this client? Standard Text: Select all that apply. 1. Monitor hemoglobin and hematocrit. 2. Monitor liver enzymes. 3. Administer oxygen, as needed. 4. Administer a dextrose solution. 5. Monitor blood glucose.

Correct Answer: 1,3,5 Rationale 1: Nursing care for a client experiencing hypovolemic shock is aimed at monitoring the child's condition and response to clinical therapy. It is appropriate for the nurse to monitor hemoglobin, hematocrit, and blood glucose. The nurse will also administer oxygen. The nurse will administer large volumes of crystalloid fluids (normal saline or lactated Ringer's), not dextrose. It is not necessary to monitor liver enzymes for this client.

A child recently had a heart transplant and the nurse teaches the parents the importance of administering cyclosporine A. Which statement by the parents indicates an appropriate understanding of the teaching session? 1. "Cyclosporin A reduces serum-cholesterol level." 2. "Cyclosporin A prevents rejection." 3. "Cyclosporin A treats hypertension." 4. "Cyclosporin A treats infections."

Correct Answer: 2 Rationale 1: Cyclosporin A is given to prevent rejection. Lovastatin is given to reduce serum-cholesterol level, calcium channel blockers may be used to treat hypertension, and an antibiotic may be given to treat an infection.

The nurse is teaching the parents of a group of cardiac patients. Which teaching guideline will the nurse include for any child who has undergone cardiac surgery? 1. The child should be restricted from most play activities. 2. The child should be evaluated to determine if prophylactic antibiotics for dental, oral, or upper-respiratory-tract procedures are necessary. 3. The child should not receive routine immunizations. 4. The child can be expected to have a fever for several weeks following the surgery.

Correct Answer: 2 Rationale 1: Parents should be taught that the child may need prophylactic antibiotics for some dental procedures, according to the American Heart Association, to prevent endocarditis. The child should live a normal and active life following repair of a cardiac defect. Immunizations should be provided according to the schedule, and any unexplained fever should be reported.

The nurse is providing care to an adolescent child who is at risk for developing adult-onset cardiovascular disease. Which teaching points will decrease the adolescent's risk? Standard Text: Select all that apply. 1. Encourage a decrease in smoking. 2. Limit fat intake to 20% to 35% of intake. 3. Encourage participation in vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes. 4. Maintain a normal weight. 5. Include high-fat dairy products in the daily diet.

Correct Answer: 2,3,4 Rationale 1: Teaching points that will decrease the adolescent's risk of developing adult-onset cardiovascular disease include: limiting fat intake to 20% to 35% of total daily intake; encouraging the participation in vigorous exercise at least 30 minutes each day; and maintaining a normal weight. The adolescent and family members should be encouraged to stop smoking, not just to decrease smoking. The family should be educated to include low-fat dairy products in the daily diet.

The nurse is preparing to discharge an infant with a congenital heart defect. The infant will be cared for at home by the parents until surgery. Which items will the nurse include in the discharge teaching for this infant and family? Standard Text: Select all that apply. 1. Allow the infant to feed for 60 minutes. 2. Hold the infant at a 45 degree angle. 3. Encourage frequent hand hygiene. 4. Notify the health care provider for fever. 5. Pump the breasts and feed with a bottle if weight gain is an issue.

Correct Answer: 2,3,4,5 Rationale 1: Children are often managed at home until surgery. The parents should hold the infant at a 45 degree angle to decrease tachypnea. The parents should also encourage frequent hand hygiene to decrease the risk of infection. It is important to notify the health care provider for a fever, as the infant will be at risk for dehydration and digoxin toxicity. If the mother is breastfeeding and the infant is losing weight, the mother should be encouraged to pump the milk and feed the infant from a bottle, but each feeding should be limited to 30 minutes. Tube feedings may be needed for this infant to conserve calories expenditure.

Which athletic activity can the nurse recommend for a school-age client with pulmonary-artery hypertension? 1. Cross-country running 2. Soccer 3. Golf 4. Basketball

Correct Answer: 3 Rationale 1: A child with pulmonary-artery hypertension should have exercise tailored to avoid dyspnea. Golf would require less exertion than soccer, basketball, or cross-country running.

A child has been admitted to the hospital unit in congestive heart failure (CHF). Which symptom would the nurse anticipate upon assessment of the child? 1. Weight loss 2. Bradycardia 3. Tachycardia 4. Increased blood pressure

Correct Answer: 3 Rationale 1: Tachycardia is a sign of congestive heart failure because the heart attempts to improve cardiac output by beating faster. Bradycardia is a serious sign and can indicate impending cardiac arrest. Blood pressure does not increase in CHF, and the weight, instead of decreasing, increases because of retention of fluids.

A toddler is started on digoxin (Lanoxin) for cardiac failure. Which is the initial symptom the nurse would assess if the child develops digoxin (Lanoxin) toxicity? 1. Lowered blood pressure 2. Tinnitus 3. Ataxia 4. A change in heart rhythm

Correct Answer: 4 Rationale 1: An early sign of digoxin (Lanoxin) toxicity is a change in heart rhythm. Digoxin (Lanoxin) toxicity does not cause lowered blood pressure, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or ataxia (unsteady gait).

The nurse is checking peripheral perfusion to a child's extremity following a cardiac catheterization. Which assessment finding indicates adequate peripheral circulation to the affected extremity? 1. A capillary refill of greater than three seconds 2. A palpable dorsalis pedis pulse but a weak posterior tibial pulse 3. A decrease in sensation with a weakened dorsalis pedis pulse 4. A capillary refill of less than three seconds with palpable warmth

Correct Answer: 4 Rationale 1: The nurse checks the extremity to determine adequacy of circulation following a cardiac catheterization. An extremity that is warm with capillary refill of less than three seconds has adequate circulation. Other indicators of adequate circulation include palpable pedal (dorsalis and posterior tibial) pulses, adequate sensation, and pinkness of skin color. If the capillary refill is over three seconds; if any of the pedal pulses are absent and/or weakened; or if the extremity is cool, cyanotic, or lacking sensation, circulation may not be adequate.