A father asks why his child with tetralogy of Fallot seems to favor a squatting position. What is the nurse's best response?
- A. Squatting increases the return of venous blood back to the heart.
- B. Squatting decreases arterial blood flow away from the heart.
- C. Squatting is a common resting position when a child is tachycardic.
- D. Squatting increases the workload of the heart.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The squatting position allows the child to breathe more easily because systemic venous return is increased.
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An older male client with long-standing lung disease is admitted to the medical unit for treatment of pulmonary infection. In assessing for signs of increasing hypoxia, which action should the nurse include? (select all that apply)
- A. Monitor dryness of mucous membranes
- B. Check for changes in mentation
- C. Observe color of skin and nailbeds
- D. Note appearance of jugular veins
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Changes in mentation, skin color, and breathing patterns are key indicators of hypoxia in clients with lung disease.
Biochemical abnormalities in a chronic carrier of hepatitis B are:
- A. Raised AST
- B. Low serum albumin
- C. Raised gamma GT
- D. Raised transferrin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because chronic hepatitis B carriers often have raised AST (aspartate aminotransferase) due to liver inflammation. The other options are less specific or not typically associated with chronic hepatitis B.
Which should the nurse consider when preparing a school-age child and the family for heart surgery?
- A. Unfamiliar equipment should not be shown.
- B. Let the child hear the sounds of an ECG monitor.
- C. Avoid mentioning postoperative discomfort and interventions.
- D. Explain that an endotracheal tube will not be needed if the surgery goes well.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The child and family should be exposed to the sights and sounds of the intensive care unit (ICU). All positive, nonfrightening aspects of the environment are emphasized. The child should be shown unfamiliar equipment and its use demonstrated on a doll. Carefully prepare the child for the postoperative experience, including intravenous (IV) lines, incision, and endotracheal tube.
The Duke criterion for the diagnosis of endocarditis is a major
- A. new regurgitant flow by echocardiography
- B. Osler nodes
- C. single positive blood culture
- D. serologic evidence of infection
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A single positive blood culture is one of the major criteria for diagnosing endocarditis.
Severe pulmonary valve stenosis is defined as a peak gradient of
- A. >40 mm Hg
- B. >45 mm Hg
- C. >50 mm Hg
- D. >55 mm Hg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Severe pulmonary valve stenosis is generally defined as a peak gradient >50 mm Hg.