The nurse is caring for an infant who was recently diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
Which assessment finding is most important for the nurse to report to the healthcare provider?
Audible heart murmur.
Heart rate of 162 beats/minute.
Poor oral intake and suckling effort.
Weight gain of 2.2 lbs. (1 kg) in the last 48 hours.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Many infants with congenital heart defects exhibit audible murmurs due to turbulent blood flow through abnormal openings or stenotic valves. While a murmur is a diagnostic hallmark of the condition, it is often an expected finding and does not necessarily indicate acute physiological deterioration. The nurse must document the murmur, but it is rarely the most urgent finding to report.
B. A heart rate of 162 beats/minute in an infant is slightly elevated above the typical resting range but can be triggered by crying, feeding, or baseline cardiac stress from the defect. Although tachycardia requires close monitoring to ensure the infant is not entering a state of high-output failure, it is less critical than signs of fluid overload. It represents a compensatory mechanism rather than an immediate life-threatening complication.
C. Infants with cardiac defects often experience fatigue during feeding because of the high metabolic demand and decreased cardiac output. Poor suckling effort and inadequate oral intake are common symptoms of pediatric heart failure that lead to failure to thrive over time. While this finding is significant for long-term nutritional management, it does not suggest an acute, rapid shift in stability like sudden weight changes.
D. Rapid weight gain of 1 kg within 48 hours is the most critical finding because it indicates acute fluid volume excess and potential congestive heart failure. In an infant, such a significant increase is almost certainly due to fluid retention rather than nutritional growth. This clinical sign suggests that the heart is unable to manage the systemic or pulmonary circulation effectively, necessitating immediate medical intervention.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
When moving an adolescent with scoliosis who is recovering after a surgical spinal instrumentation, the nurse should use the log roll technique. This technique involves keeping the spine in alignment while turning the client onto their side. Crossing the arms and legs, raising the hips, and flexing the knees are not appropriate techniques for moving a client with spinal instrumentation.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Children with autism spectrum disorder may have difficulty with sensory processing, social interactions, and communication, which can contribute to feeding difficulties and failure to thrive. Providing structured meal times is an important intervention to help establish a routine and promote consistency and predictability.
Structured meal times involve setting a specific time for meals and snacks, providing a calm and quiet environment, and limiting distractions. This can help the child focus on the task of eating and reduce sensory overload that may interfere with feeding. The nurse should also ensure that the child is seated comfortably and at an appropriate height for feeding.
Offering food even if disinterested (B), incorporating play during meals (C), and allowing multiple food choices (D) are not necessarily helpful interventions for a toddler with autism spectrum disorder and failure to thrive. Offering food when the child is not interested may reinforce negative feeding behaviors and can contribute to further feeding difficulties. Incorporating play during meals may distract the child from the task of eating and can be counterproductive. Allowing multiple food choices can be overwhelming for the child and may not promote a consistent and structured feeding routine.
Therefore, the nurse should prioritize providing structured meal times as an important intervention for promoting feeding and growth in a toddler with autism spectrum disorder and failure to thrive.
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