Pediatric Cardiac Disorders NCLEX Questions Related

Review Pediatric Cardiac Disorders NCLEX Questions related questions and content

The nurse is assessing the client with an anterior-lateral MI. The nurse should add decreased cardiac output to the client’s plan of care when which finding is noted?

  • A. Pain radiates up left arm to neck
  • B. Presence of an S4 heart sound
  • C. Crackles auscultated in both lung bases
  • D. Vesicular breath sounds over lung lobes
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: An anterior-lateral MI can produce left ventricular dysfunction and low cardiac output. With decreased cardiac output, blood accumulates in the heart and backs up into the pulmonary system, causing fluid to move into interstitial spaces and alveoli, resulting in crackles. Pain radiation, S4 sounds, and vesicular breath sounds do not directly indicate decreased cardiac output.