A nurse is planning care for an 8-month-old infant who has heart failure.
Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
Administer cool, humidified oxygen via nasal cannula.
Provide less frequent, higher volume feedings.
Place the infant in a prone position.
Repeat a digoxin dosage if the infant vomits within 1 hr of administration.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Administer cool, humidified oxygen via nasal cannula. Infants with heart failure often experience respiratory distress due to inadequate oxygenation. Administering cool, humidified oxygen via nasal cannula helps improve oxygen saturation and alleviate respiratory distress. Humidified oxygen prevents the mucous membranes from drying out, making breathing easier for the infant. Cool oxygen is preferred to reduce the work of breathing and to soothe irritated airways, improving the overall comfort of the infant.
Choice B rationale:
Provide less frequent, higher volume feedings. Infants with heart failure may have difficulty feeding due to fatigue and increased respiratory effort. Providing less frequent, higher volume feedings ensures that the infant receives adequate nutrition without becoming overly fatigued during feeding sessions. It allows the infant to obtain the necessary nutrients without putting excessive stress on their weakened cardiovascular system.
Choice C rationale:
Place the infant in a prone position. Placing the infant in a prone position is not recommended in the care of a child with heart failure. Placing the infant in an upright or semi-upright position is more appropriate as it reduces the workload on the heart and improves respiratory function. Placing the infant flat on their back may cause increased pressure on the diaphragm and worsen respiratory distress.
Choice D rationale:
Repeat a digoxin dosage if the infant vomits within 1 hr of administration. Digoxin is a medication commonly prescribed for heart failure. However, if the infant vomits shortly after receiving a dose, repeating the dose is not advisable. Vomiting may indicate that the medication was not properly absorbed, and administering an additional dose could lead to an overdose. Instead, the nurse should consult the healthcare provider for further instructions and closely monitor the infant's condition.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["C","D","F"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The sleeping pattern is mentioned, but it does not provide relevant information regarding the infant's condition. The fact that the infant is sleeping through the night does not address the concerns related to gastroesophageal reflux.
Choice B rationale:
Irritability is mentioned in the notes, but it is not a parameter that directly reflects the improvement or worsening of the infant's condition. While irritability can be a symptom of discomfort due to reflux, it's not a parameter to monitor progress over time.
Choice C rationale:
Monitoring the infant's weight is crucial in this scenario. Weight gain is a significant indicator of the infant's overall health and nutritional status. A decrease in weight gain could indicate feeding difficulties or other health issues. In this case, the weight has increased, suggesting improvement in the infant's condition.
Choice D rationale:
Regurgitation is one of the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. Monitoring the frequency and severity of regurgitation is essential to assess the effectiveness of interventions, such as thickened feedings. The persistence of regurgitation in this case indicates that the condition has not completely resolved.
Choice E rationale:
Heart rate is not mentioned in the provided information, and it does not provide relevant information about the infant's condition in this context.
Choice F rationale:
Bottle feeding is mentioned, specifically the thickening of feedings. This information is crucial in assessing the effectiveness of interventions for gastroesophageal reflux. Thickened feedings are often recommended to reduce regurgitation, and the fact that the parents have been thickening the feedings suggests an attempt to manage the condition.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Showing teeth while smiling assesses the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), not the accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI) The facial nerve controls facial expressions, including smiling.
Choice B rationale:
Following a light in the six cardinal positions assesses extraocular eye movements, which are controlled by the oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III), trochlear nerve (cranial nerve IV), and abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI) This action does not assess the accessory nerve.
Choice C rationale:
Shrugging the shoulders against mild pressure assesses the function of the accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI) The accessory nerve controls the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, which are responsible for head rotation and shoulder shrugging. Assessing the strength of these muscles helps evaluate the integrity of the accessory nerve.
Choice D rationale:
Moving the tongue in all directions assesses the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII), which controls tongue movements. This action does not assess the accessory nerve.
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