NUR 307 – Chapter 41: Nursing Care of the
Child With Cardiovascular Disorders | 100%
Verified Exam Q&A 2025/2026.
A parent asks if the reason her infant has a congenital heart defect is because of something she
did while she was pregnant. What is the best response by the nurse?
There are several reasons a baby can have a heart defect, let's talk about those causes.
Focus on the therapeutic communication in this situation, while still obtaining more
information. This will help the nurse explore various options for the cause of the defect with the
parent.
A nurse is caring for a child with Kawasaki disease. Which assessment finding would the nurse
expect to see?
Peeling hands and feet and fever
One of the signs of Kawasaki disease is the peeling hands and feet. The other symptoms are not
necessarily characteristic of Kawasaki disease.
A parent brings an infant in for poor feeding. Which assessment data would most likely indicate
a coarctation of the aorta?
Pulses weaker in lower extremities compared to upper extremities
An infant with coarctation of the aorta has decreased systemic circulation, causing this problem.
The cyanosis would be associated with tetralogy of Fallot.
A nurse is reviewing blood work for a child with a cyanotic heart defect. What result would most
likely be seen in a client experiencing polycythemia?
Increased RBC
Polycythemia can occur in clients with a cyanotic heart defect. The body tries to compensate for
having low oxygen levels and produces more red blood cells (RBCs). This would cause an
increased result on the lab tests. This problem does not affect the white blood cells (WBCs).
An infant with tetralogy of Fallot becomes cyanotic. Which nursing intervention would be the
first priority?
,Place the infant in the knee-chest position.
Placing the infant in the knee-chest position is the first priority when caring for an infant with
tetralogy of Fallot. Starting IV fluids and preparing the child for surgery would not be necessary
since it is known that the infant has a cyanotic birth defect. Raising the head of the bed would
not be a priority since the infant needs to be placed in the knee-chest position.
A nurse suspects a child is experiencing cardiac tamponade after heart surgery. What would be
the priority nursing intervention?
Notify the doctor immediately.
The nurse would notify the doctor immediately. Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency and
should be addressed. The child can die if intervention is postponed. It would not be appropriate
to perform any interventions until confirming that this is the actual diagnosis.
A parent is asking for more information about their infant's patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
What would be included in the education?
This is caused by an opening that usually closes by 1 week of age.
A PDA is caused by an opening that usually closes by 1 week of age called the ductus arteriosus.
The defect is usually fixed by a single surgery or during a cardiac catheterization procedure. IV
fluids are not a routine intervention for the PDA. Most of the time a PDA occurs in premature
infants.
A nurse is taking the history of a 4-year-old boy who will undergo a cardiac catheterization.
Which statement by his mother may necessitate rescheduling of the procedure?
"He seems listless and slightly warm."
Fever and other signs and symptoms of infection may necessitate rescheduling the procedure.
Although information about allergies is important, not all contrast media contain iodine as a
base. The nurse should address the child's fears in a developmentally appropriate way, but fear
of the procedure does not warrant rescheduling. Not using any medication would not be a
reason for rescheduling the procedure.
The nurse has administered oral penicillin as ordered for prophylaxis of endocarditis. The nurse
instructs the parents to immediately report which reaction?
, Wheezing
The nurse must report any hypersensitivity reactions such as wheezing and pruritus, as these
could be a sign of anaphylaxis. Stomach upset is common with oral antibiotics and is not
something that needs to be reported immediately. Nausea with diarrhea is common with oral
antibiotics and does not need to be reported immediately. Abdominal distress is common with
oral antibiotics and does not need to be reported immediately.
The nurse is caring for a 14-year-old girl with atrial fibrillation. Which medication would the
nurse expect to be prescribed?
Digoxin
Digoxin is indicated for atrial fibrillation. It increases the contractility of the heart muscle by
decreasing conduction and increasing force. Alprostadil is indicated for temporary maintenance
of ductus arteriosus patency in infants with ductal-dependent congenital heart defects.
Furosemide is used for the management of edema associated with heart failure. Indomethacin
is used to close a patent ductus arteriosus.
After assessing a child, the nurse suspects coarctation of the aorta based on a finding of:
femoral pulse weaker than brachial pulse.
A femoral pulse that is weak or absent in comparison to the brachial pulse is associated with
coarctation of the aorta. Bounding pulse is characteristic of patent ductus arteriosus or aortic
regurgitation. A narrow or thread pulse is associated with heart failure or severe aortic stenosis.
Hepatomegaly is a sign of right-sided heart failure.
A child with heart disease is receiving digoxin and a diuretic. Which laboratory test result would
be most important for the nurse to monitor?
Serum potassium level
Children receiving diuretics should have serum potassium levels obtained because diuretics
tend to deplete the body of potassium. This is even more important if the child is also receiving
digoxin because low serum potassium levels potentiate or increase the effect of the drug.
Serum sodium levels may be obtained in children with heart failure to ensure that an increased
sodium level is not causing edema. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate identifies inflammation
and is unrelated to the use of diuretics and digoxin. Oxygen saturation levels may be done to
Child With Cardiovascular Disorders | 100%
Verified Exam Q&A 2025/2026.
A parent asks if the reason her infant has a congenital heart defect is because of something she
did while she was pregnant. What is the best response by the nurse?
There are several reasons a baby can have a heart defect, let's talk about those causes.
Focus on the therapeutic communication in this situation, while still obtaining more
information. This will help the nurse explore various options for the cause of the defect with the
parent.
A nurse is caring for a child with Kawasaki disease. Which assessment finding would the nurse
expect to see?
Peeling hands and feet and fever
One of the signs of Kawasaki disease is the peeling hands and feet. The other symptoms are not
necessarily characteristic of Kawasaki disease.
A parent brings an infant in for poor feeding. Which assessment data would most likely indicate
a coarctation of the aorta?
Pulses weaker in lower extremities compared to upper extremities
An infant with coarctation of the aorta has decreased systemic circulation, causing this problem.
The cyanosis would be associated with tetralogy of Fallot.
A nurse is reviewing blood work for a child with a cyanotic heart defect. What result would most
likely be seen in a client experiencing polycythemia?
Increased RBC
Polycythemia can occur in clients with a cyanotic heart defect. The body tries to compensate for
having low oxygen levels and produces more red blood cells (RBCs). This would cause an
increased result on the lab tests. This problem does not affect the white blood cells (WBCs).
An infant with tetralogy of Fallot becomes cyanotic. Which nursing intervention would be the
first priority?
,Place the infant in the knee-chest position.
Placing the infant in the knee-chest position is the first priority when caring for an infant with
tetralogy of Fallot. Starting IV fluids and preparing the child for surgery would not be necessary
since it is known that the infant has a cyanotic birth defect. Raising the head of the bed would
not be a priority since the infant needs to be placed in the knee-chest position.
A nurse suspects a child is experiencing cardiac tamponade after heart surgery. What would be
the priority nursing intervention?
Notify the doctor immediately.
The nurse would notify the doctor immediately. Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency and
should be addressed. The child can die if intervention is postponed. It would not be appropriate
to perform any interventions until confirming that this is the actual diagnosis.
A parent is asking for more information about their infant's patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
What would be included in the education?
This is caused by an opening that usually closes by 1 week of age.
A PDA is caused by an opening that usually closes by 1 week of age called the ductus arteriosus.
The defect is usually fixed by a single surgery or during a cardiac catheterization procedure. IV
fluids are not a routine intervention for the PDA. Most of the time a PDA occurs in premature
infants.
A nurse is taking the history of a 4-year-old boy who will undergo a cardiac catheterization.
Which statement by his mother may necessitate rescheduling of the procedure?
"He seems listless and slightly warm."
Fever and other signs and symptoms of infection may necessitate rescheduling the procedure.
Although information about allergies is important, not all contrast media contain iodine as a
base. The nurse should address the child's fears in a developmentally appropriate way, but fear
of the procedure does not warrant rescheduling. Not using any medication would not be a
reason for rescheduling the procedure.
The nurse has administered oral penicillin as ordered for prophylaxis of endocarditis. The nurse
instructs the parents to immediately report which reaction?
, Wheezing
The nurse must report any hypersensitivity reactions such as wheezing and pruritus, as these
could be a sign of anaphylaxis. Stomach upset is common with oral antibiotics and is not
something that needs to be reported immediately. Nausea with diarrhea is common with oral
antibiotics and does not need to be reported immediately. Abdominal distress is common with
oral antibiotics and does not need to be reported immediately.
The nurse is caring for a 14-year-old girl with atrial fibrillation. Which medication would the
nurse expect to be prescribed?
Digoxin
Digoxin is indicated for atrial fibrillation. It increases the contractility of the heart muscle by
decreasing conduction and increasing force. Alprostadil is indicated for temporary maintenance
of ductus arteriosus patency in infants with ductal-dependent congenital heart defects.
Furosemide is used for the management of edema associated with heart failure. Indomethacin
is used to close a patent ductus arteriosus.
After assessing a child, the nurse suspects coarctation of the aorta based on a finding of:
femoral pulse weaker than brachial pulse.
A femoral pulse that is weak or absent in comparison to the brachial pulse is associated with
coarctation of the aorta. Bounding pulse is characteristic of patent ductus arteriosus or aortic
regurgitation. A narrow or thread pulse is associated with heart failure or severe aortic stenosis.
Hepatomegaly is a sign of right-sided heart failure.
A child with heart disease is receiving digoxin and a diuretic. Which laboratory test result would
be most important for the nurse to monitor?
Serum potassium level
Children receiving diuretics should have serum potassium levels obtained because diuretics
tend to deplete the body of potassium. This is even more important if the child is also receiving
digoxin because low serum potassium levels potentiate or increase the effect of the drug.
Serum sodium levels may be obtained in children with heart failure to ensure that an increased
sodium level is not causing edema. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate identifies inflammation
and is unrelated to the use of diuretics and digoxin. Oxygen saturation levels may be done to
