Pediatric Nursing Focus: Heart
Defects, Heart Failure, and Post-
Infectious Cardiac Care Verified
Questions Provided with A+
Graded Rationales Latest Updated
2026
a nurse is assessing an infant who has coarctation of the aorta. which of the following findings
should the nurse expect? (select all that apply)
a. weak femoral pulse
b. cool skin of lower extremities
c. severe cyanosis
d. clubbing of the fingers
e. low blood pressure
a. weak femoral pulse
b. cool skin of lower extremities
e. low blood pressure
a nurse is assessing an infant who has heart failure. which of the following findings should the
nurse expect? (select all that apply)
a. bradycardia
b. cool extremities
c. peripheral edema
d. increased urinary output
e. nasal flaring
b. cool extremities
c. peripheral edema
e. nasal flaring
a nurse is providing teaching to the caregiver of an infant who has a prescription for digoxin.
which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
a. do not offer your baby fluids after giving the medication
b. digoxin increases your baby's heart rate
, c. give the correct dose of medication at regularly scheduled times
d. if your baby vomits a dose, you should repeat the dose to ensure that the correct amount is
received
c. give the correct dose of medication at regularly scheduled times
a nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who has a heart defect and is scheduled for cardiac
catheterization. which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. place on NPO status for 12 hours prior to the procedure
b. check for iodine or shellfish allergies prior to the procedure
c. elevate the affected extremity following the procedure
d. limit fluid intake following the procedure
b. check for iodine or shellfish allergies prior to the procedure
a nurse is caring for a child who is suspected of having rheumatic fever. which of the following
findings should the nurse expect? (select all that apply)
a. erythema marginatum (rash)
b. continuous joint pain of the digits
c. tender, subcutaneous nodules
d. decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
e. elevated c-reactive protein
a. erythema marginatum (rash)
e. elevated c-reactive protein
Congenital Heart Defects (CHD)
congenital heart defects are abnormalities in the structure of the heart
caused by improper development during gestation
associated with: chromosomal abnormalities, syndromes, congenital defects
CHD Risk Factors
parent or sibling has heart defect
maternal diabetes
maternal use of alcohol and illicit drugs
exposures to infections in utero (rubella)
CHD Nursing Points
congenital Heart Defects can be classified in two ways: acyanotic vs cyanotic
outdated
Defects, Heart Failure, and Post-
Infectious Cardiac Care Verified
Questions Provided with A+
Graded Rationales Latest Updated
2026
a nurse is assessing an infant who has coarctation of the aorta. which of the following findings
should the nurse expect? (select all that apply)
a. weak femoral pulse
b. cool skin of lower extremities
c. severe cyanosis
d. clubbing of the fingers
e. low blood pressure
a. weak femoral pulse
b. cool skin of lower extremities
e. low blood pressure
a nurse is assessing an infant who has heart failure. which of the following findings should the
nurse expect? (select all that apply)
a. bradycardia
b. cool extremities
c. peripheral edema
d. increased urinary output
e. nasal flaring
b. cool extremities
c. peripheral edema
e. nasal flaring
a nurse is providing teaching to the caregiver of an infant who has a prescription for digoxin.
which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
a. do not offer your baby fluids after giving the medication
b. digoxin increases your baby's heart rate
, c. give the correct dose of medication at regularly scheduled times
d. if your baby vomits a dose, you should repeat the dose to ensure that the correct amount is
received
c. give the correct dose of medication at regularly scheduled times
a nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who has a heart defect and is scheduled for cardiac
catheterization. which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. place on NPO status for 12 hours prior to the procedure
b. check for iodine or shellfish allergies prior to the procedure
c. elevate the affected extremity following the procedure
d. limit fluid intake following the procedure
b. check for iodine or shellfish allergies prior to the procedure
a nurse is caring for a child who is suspected of having rheumatic fever. which of the following
findings should the nurse expect? (select all that apply)
a. erythema marginatum (rash)
b. continuous joint pain of the digits
c. tender, subcutaneous nodules
d. decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
e. elevated c-reactive protein
a. erythema marginatum (rash)
e. elevated c-reactive protein
Congenital Heart Defects (CHD)
congenital heart defects are abnormalities in the structure of the heart
caused by improper development during gestation
associated with: chromosomal abnormalities, syndromes, congenital defects
CHD Risk Factors
parent or sibling has heart defect
maternal diabetes
maternal use of alcohol and illicit drugs
exposures to infections in utero (rubella)
CHD Nursing Points
congenital Heart Defects can be classified in two ways: acyanotic vs cyanotic
outdated
