A nurse is caring for a client who has an endotracheal tube (ET) and is on mechanical ventilation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take for a ventilator alarm due to an increase in peak airway pressure? (Select all that apply)

Choice A reason: Frequent nosebleeds are not linked to coarctation of the aorta, a congenital aortic narrowing. They may result from hypertension or nasal issues, but coarctation causes differential blood pressure, with high upper body pressure, not nasal vasculature changes, making this an unrelated finding.
Choice B reason: Weak femoral pulses are expected in coarctation of the aorta, as the narrowing restricts blood flow to the lower extremities. This creates a pressure gradient, with stronger upper body pulses, detectable in infants, guiding diagnosis and management of this cardiovascular defect.
Choice C reason: Increased intracranial pressure is not associated with coarctation, which affects cardiovascular dynamics, not cranial pressure. It may occur in neurological conditions, but coarctation’s primary effect is hypertension above the narrowing, not brain-related changes, making this an irrelevant finding in this context.
Choice D reason: Upper extremity hypotension is incorrect, as coarctation causes hypertension in the upper extremities due to restricted aortic flow. Blood pressure is higher above the narrowing, with strong brachial pulses, while lower extremities experience reduced flow, opposite to hypotension in the upper body.

Choice A reason: Washing hands for 10 seconds with hot water is insufficient; at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water is recommended to remove pathogens post-gardening. Hot water alone is ineffective, so this statement reflects incomplete understanding, making it incorrect.
Choice B reason: Visiting a nephew with chickenpox 5 days after sores crust indicates understanding, as the virus is no longer contagious then. This aligns with CDC guidelines for varicella, protecting the pregnant client and fetus, making it the correct statement.
Choice C reason: Cleaning a cat’s litter box during pregnancy risks toxoplasmosis, which can harm the fetus. Pregnant women should avoid this task, so this statement shows a lack of understanding, making it incorrect for infection prevention.
Choice D reason: Avoiding anyone with a cold sore is overly restrictive, as herpes simplex transmission requires direct contact. General avoidance without context reflects misunderstanding, as precautions like avoiding kissing suffice, making this incorrect.