Medical Surgical HESI Related

Review Medical Surgical HESI related questions and content

The nurse instructs the mother of a child with a ventricular septal defect that she can expect the child to become cyanotic when the child does what?

  • A. Experiences an elevation in temperature.
  • B. Sleeps on the left side.
  • C. Cries vigorously.
  • D. Eats.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Cries vigorously. When the child cries vigorously, it increases the pressure in the right ventricle, allowing unoxygenated blood to enter the circulating volume, leading to cyanosis. This occurs due to the shunting of blood from the right side of the heart to the left side through the ventricular septal defect. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not directly impact the pressure in the right ventricle, which is crucial in causing cyanosis in this scenario.