The nurse is sitting at the desk watching the telemetry monitors and notes a patient's rhythm suddenly shows asystole. Which action should the nurse take first?

A. A 14-month-old toddler with bruises on bony prominences:

Bruises on bony prominences are common in toddlers who are learning to walk and are prone to falls. While bruising can raise concerns, it is not necessarily indicative of physical abuse, especially in this age group.

B. A 9-month-old infant who sustained near drowning:

Near drowning in an infant who climbed into the tub and turned on the water suggests an accidental event rather than physical abuse. This scenario is consistent with lack of supervision or an unfortunate accident.

C. A 3-year-old toddler with scalding burns:

Scalding burns from spilling hot tea on oneself can occur accidentally, especially in young children who may not understand the dangers associated with hot liquids. While the circumstances may raise suspicion, it does not necessarily indicate physical abuse without further evidence.

D. A 6-year-old child with a spiral fracture:

A spiral fracture of the tibia and fibula is concerning for physical abuse, especially in a child who reportedly sustained the injury while riding a bicycle. Spiral fractures are often associated with twisting or pulling forces and are considered suspicious for non-accidental trauma, particularly when there is no plausible explanation for the injury.

(A) Heart murmur: This is the most appropriate answer. Mitral valve stenosis can cause a heart murmur due to turbulent blood flow across the narrowed mitral valve. This is often heard best at the apex of the heart with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position.

(B) Clubbing of the fingers: Clubbing of the fingers is typically associated with conditions that cause chronic hypoxia, such as lung disease or congenital heart disease. It is not a common finding in mitral valve stenosis.

(C) Bradycardia: Mitral valve stenosis does not typically cause bradycardia. In fact, some patients may have a rapid heart rate (tachycardia) due to atrial fibrillation, which is a common complication of mitral valve stenosis.

(D) Barrel chest: A barrel chest is typically associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is not a common finding in mitral valve stenosis. It refers to a rounded, bulging chest that resembles the shape of a barrel. This occurs due to overinflation of the lungs over a long period of time.