Pediatric Practice Exam HESI Related

Review Pediatric Practice Exam HESI related questions and content

A child has coarctation of the aorta. What does the nurse expect to identify when taking the child's vital signs?

  • A. A weak radial pulse
  • B. An irregular heartbeat
  • C. A bounding femoral pulse
  • D. An elevated radial blood pressure
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: When a child has coarctation of the aorta, the nurse would expect to identify a weak radial pulse when taking the child's vital signs. Coarctation of the aorta results in a narrowing of the aorta, leading to reduced blood flow and a weakened pulse. An irregular heartbeat (Choice B) is less likely to be associated with coarctation of the aorta. Similarly, a bounding femoral pulse (Choice C) is not typically observed with this condition. An elevated radial blood pressure (Choice D) is less common as coarctation of the aorta usually causes decreased blood pressure in the lower extremities due to the aortic narrowing.