1 | Page
NURS 535 Exam 3 Questions and
Answers Latest 2026
What is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in
the first year of life? Ans: Congenital cardiovascular
disorders
How is fetal circulation different from neonatal
circulation? Ans: In fetal circulation, oxygenation occurs
in the placenta, and pulmonary vascular resistance is
high, preventing blood flow to the lungs.
What are the four key features of fetal circulation? Ans:
Foramen ovale
ductus arteriosus
ductus venosus
and two parallel circuits (left ventricle to upper body,
right ventricle to lower body).
What happens during the transition to neonatal
circulation? Ans: After cord clamping and the first
breath, systemic vascular resistance increases, pulmonary
vascular resistance decreases, and the foramen ovale and
ductus arteriosus begin to close.
What is the purpose of routine vital signs assessment in
pediatric cardiovascular evaluation? Ans: To detect
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, 2 | Page
abnormalities such as elevated heart rate, respiratory
rate, or blood pressure that may indicate cardiac issues.
What does a bounding pulse indicate in a pediatric
patient? Ans: Conditions like patent ductus arteriosus
(PDA) or aortic insufficiency.
What are common clinical findings of congestive heart
failure (CHF) in children? Ans: Tachycardia
tachypnea
poor feeding
failure to thrive
hepatomegaly
What is an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)? Ans: A hole in the
atrial septum that allows blood to flow from the left
atrium to the right atrium.
What are the clinical features of a Ventricular Septal
Defect (VSD)? Ans: Symptoms can range from being
asymptomatic to signs of CHF, with a loud, harsh
murmur at the left sternal border.
What is the management for a Patent Ductus Arteriosus
(PDA)? Ans: Indomethacin or ibuprofen may induce
closure in preterm infants
catheter or surgical closure may be needed if persistent.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
What are cyanotic congenital heart defects? Ans: Defects
that cause deoxygenated blood to enter systemic
circulation, leading to hypoxemia and cyanosis.
What is the significance of the hyperoxia test in pediatric
cardiology? Ans: It differentiates between cardiac and
pulmonary causes of cyanosis.
What maternal factors can contribute to congenital heart
disease? Ans: Medications
infections
chronic diseases
environmental exposures
What is the most common cause of CHF in children? Ans:
Left-to-right shunting from unrepaired congenital defects
like VSD or PDA.
How is an Atrioventricular Canal Defect (AVSD)
characterized? Ans: It is a combination of ASD, VSD, and
a common AV valve, often associated with Down
syndrome.
What is the typical murmur associated with ASD? Ans: A
systolic crescendo-decrescendo murmur at the left upper
sternal border.
What is the prognosis for children with repaired
congenital heart defects? Ans: Most have excellent
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
outcomes post-repair, but ongoing monitoring is often
required.
What does central cyanosis indicate? Ans: Pathologic
conditions that require further evaluation, as it affects
the lips and mucous membranes.
What are the key diagnostic tools for evaluating pediatric
cardiovascular disorders? Ans: Echocardiogram
chest X-ray
ECG
CBC
cardiac catheterization
MRI
What is the typical management for large symptomatic
VSDs? Ans: Medical management with diuretics and
surgical closure if persistent or symptomatic.
What is the relationship between congenital heart defects
and chromosomal syndromes? Ans: Certain syndromes
like Down syndrome and Turner syndrome are associated
with specific congenital heart defects.
What is the expected outcome for small VSDs? Ans: Many
close spontaneously by age 4, with monitoring
recommended.
© 2025 All rights reserved
NURS 535 Exam 3 Questions and
Answers Latest 2026
What is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in
the first year of life? Ans: Congenital cardiovascular
disorders
How is fetal circulation different from neonatal
circulation? Ans: In fetal circulation, oxygenation occurs
in the placenta, and pulmonary vascular resistance is
high, preventing blood flow to the lungs.
What are the four key features of fetal circulation? Ans:
Foramen ovale
ductus arteriosus
ductus venosus
and two parallel circuits (left ventricle to upper body,
right ventricle to lower body).
What happens during the transition to neonatal
circulation? Ans: After cord clamping and the first
breath, systemic vascular resistance increases, pulmonary
vascular resistance decreases, and the foramen ovale and
ductus arteriosus begin to close.
What is the purpose of routine vital signs assessment in
pediatric cardiovascular evaluation? Ans: To detect
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
abnormalities such as elevated heart rate, respiratory
rate, or blood pressure that may indicate cardiac issues.
What does a bounding pulse indicate in a pediatric
patient? Ans: Conditions like patent ductus arteriosus
(PDA) or aortic insufficiency.
What are common clinical findings of congestive heart
failure (CHF) in children? Ans: Tachycardia
tachypnea
poor feeding
failure to thrive
hepatomegaly
What is an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)? Ans: A hole in the
atrial septum that allows blood to flow from the left
atrium to the right atrium.
What are the clinical features of a Ventricular Septal
Defect (VSD)? Ans: Symptoms can range from being
asymptomatic to signs of CHF, with a loud, harsh
murmur at the left sternal border.
What is the management for a Patent Ductus Arteriosus
(PDA)? Ans: Indomethacin or ibuprofen may induce
closure in preterm infants
catheter or surgical closure may be needed if persistent.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
What are cyanotic congenital heart defects? Ans: Defects
that cause deoxygenated blood to enter systemic
circulation, leading to hypoxemia and cyanosis.
What is the significance of the hyperoxia test in pediatric
cardiology? Ans: It differentiates between cardiac and
pulmonary causes of cyanosis.
What maternal factors can contribute to congenital heart
disease? Ans: Medications
infections
chronic diseases
environmental exposures
What is the most common cause of CHF in children? Ans:
Left-to-right shunting from unrepaired congenital defects
like VSD or PDA.
How is an Atrioventricular Canal Defect (AVSD)
characterized? Ans: It is a combination of ASD, VSD, and
a common AV valve, often associated with Down
syndrome.
What is the typical murmur associated with ASD? Ans: A
systolic crescendo-decrescendo murmur at the left upper
sternal border.
What is the prognosis for children with repaired
congenital heart defects? Ans: Most have excellent
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
outcomes post-repair, but ongoing monitoring is often
required.
What does central cyanosis indicate? Ans: Pathologic
conditions that require further evaluation, as it affects
the lips and mucous membranes.
What are the key diagnostic tools for evaluating pediatric
cardiovascular disorders? Ans: Echocardiogram
chest X-ray
ECG
CBC
cardiac catheterization
MRI
What is the typical management for large symptomatic
VSDs? Ans: Medical management with diuretics and
surgical closure if persistent or symptomatic.
What is the relationship between congenital heart defects
and chromosomal syndromes? Ans: Certain syndromes
like Down syndrome and Turner syndrome are associated
with specific congenital heart defects.
What is the expected outcome for small VSDs? Ans: Many
close spontaneously by age 4, with monitoring
recommended.
© 2025 All rights reserved
