A chest radiography examination is ordered for a child with suspected cardiac problems. The childs parent asks the nurse, What will the x-ray show about the heart? The nurses response should be based on knowledge that the radiograph provides which information?
- A. Shows bones of the chest but not the heart
- B. Evaluates the vascular anatomy outside of the heart
- C. Shows a graphic measure of electrical activity of the heart
- D. Supplies information on heart size and pulmonary blood flow patterns
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Chest radiographs reveal heart size and pulmonary blood flow patterns, aiding in cardiac assessment. They also show chest bones, but the heart is visible. Vascular anatomy is evaluated via MRI, and electrical activity is measured by electrocardiography, not radiographs.
You may also like to solve these questions
What cardiovascular defect results in obstruction to blood flow?
- A. Aortic stenosis
- B. Tricuspid atresia
- C. Atrial septal defect
- D. Transposition of the great arteries
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aortic stenosis narrows the aortic valve, obstructing blood flow from the left ventricle, causing hypertrophy and congestion. Tricuspid atresia reduces pulmonary flow, atrial septal defect increases it, and transposition involves mixed flow, not obstruction.
A cardiac defect that allows blood to shunt from the (high pressure) left side of the heart to the (lower pressure) right side can result in which condition?
- A. Cyanosis
- B. Heart failure
- C. Decreased pulmonary blood flow
- D. Bounding pulses in upper extremities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Left-to-right shunting increases pulmonary blood flow, overloading the right heart and leading to heart failure. Cyanosis and decreased pulmonary flow occur with right-to-left shunts, and bounding pulses are specific to coarctation of the aorta.
What term is defined as the volume of blood ejected by the heart in 1 minute?
- A. Afterload
- B. Cardiac cycle
- C. Stroke volume
- D. Cardiac output
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cardiac output is the volume of blood ejected by the heart per minute, calculated as heart rate times stroke volume. Afterload is resistance to ventricular ejection, cardiac cycle is the sequence of atrial and ventricular contraction, and stroke volume is the blood ejected per contraction.
Decreasing the demands on the heart is a priority in care for the infant with heart failure (HF). In evaluating the infants status, which finding is indicative of achieving this goal?
- A. Irritability when awake
- B. Capillary refill of more than 5 seconds
- C. Appropriate weight gain for age 18
- D. Positioned in high Fowler position to maintain oxygen saturation at 90%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Appropriate weight gain indicates successful feeding and reduced caloric loss, reflecting decreased cardiac demand. Irritability and prolonged capillary refill suggest ongoing HF, and high Fowler positioning aids breathing but doesn?t confirm reduced cardiac strain.
The nurse finds that a 6-month-old infant has an apical pulse of 166 beats/min during sleep. What nursing intervention is most appropriate at this time?
- A. Administer oxygen.
- B. Record data on the nurses notes.
- C. Report data to the practitioner.
- D. Place the child in the high Fowler position.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A sleeping pulse over 160 beats/min suggests tachycardia, an early sign of heart failure due to sympathetic stimulation, requiring practitioner evaluation. Oxygen or positioning may be needed later, but reporting is the priority. Recording alone delays intervention.
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