The nurse is caring for an infant who was recently diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
Which assessment finding is most important for the nurse to report to the healthcare provider?
Audible heart murmur.
Heart rate of 162 beats/minute.
Poor oral intake and suckling effort.
Weight gain of 2.2 lbs. (1 kg) in the last 48 hours.
The Correct Answer is C
Infants with congenital heart defects may have difficulty with feeding due to increased effort required to breathe and feed at the same time. This can lead to poor weight gain and dehydration. Thus, it is important for the nurse to report any signs of poor feeding or oral intake to the healthcare provider. While audible heart murmur (choice A) and a high heart rate (choice B) are expected findings in infants with congenital heart defects, they do not necessarily indicate a need for immediate intervention. Weight gain of 2.2 lbs. (1 kg) in the last 48 hours (choice D) may actually be a positive finding in an infant with a congenital heart defect, but it is not as important to report as poor oral intake and suckling effort.

Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
In a normal infant, T4 levels increase after birth due to stimulation by TSH from the pituitary gland. In this case, the T4 level is low and the TSH level is high, indicating that the thyroid gland is not producing enough T4 in response to TSH stimulation. This suggests that the infant may have congenital hypothyroidism, which requires prompt treatment to prevent developmental delays and other complications.
The low T4 level is not a direct cause of the high TSH level; rather, the high TSH level is a compensatory mechanism to increase T4 production. It is not normal for a breastfeeding infant to have high thyroxine levels. While the thyroid gland may take a few weeks to reach normal function after birth, the persistent low T4 and high TSH levels in this infant suggest a more serious issue.

Correct Answer is A
Explanation
To maintain normal growth and development of an infant with a repaired gastroschisis who is receiving parenteral nutrition and continuous enteral feedings, the nurse should include offering a pacifier for non- nutritive sucking in the plan of care. Non-nutritive sucking can help promote the development of the infant's oral motor skills and support normal feeding behaviors. The other options (B, C, and D) are not directly related to maintaining normal growth and development in this situation.

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