A 2-month-old infant with a congenital heart defect is admitted ...

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A 2-month-old infant with a congenital heart defect is admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with congestive heart failure. Which intervention should the nurse include in the infant's plan of care?
 
  1. Monitor respirations during active periods.
  2. Give larger feedings less often to conserve energy.
  3. Organize activities to allow for uninterrupted sleep.
  4. Force fluids appropriate for age.

Question 2

An infant who is diagnosed with a mild heart defect will not have surgical correction for at least 2 years. Which information should the nurse include in the discharge teaching regarding management in the home environment?
 
  1. Your child will have a low-grade fever until the defect is repaired.
  2. It is important for your child to maintain normal activity.
  3. Your child is not at risk for congestive heart failure.
  4. It is important to avoid antipyretics for the treatment of fever.

[lolol]

Answer to Question 1

3
Explanation:
1. Respirations are difficult to monitor during active periods, making this an unrealistic goal.
2. Feedings should be small-volume, high-calorie.
3. It is important to allow for uninterrupted sleep to decrease metabolic demands on the heart.
4. Fluids should be restricted to high-calorie and low-volume in order to avoid overloading the lungs with fluid.

Answer to Question 2

2
Explanation:
1. Low-grade fever is not a normal finding in a child with a mild cyanotic heart defect and could be a sign of infective endocarditis.
2. A child with a mild cyanotic heart defect should be treated as normally as possible without activity adjustment.
3. Any child with a heart defect could develop congestive heart failure.
4. Fevers are treated with antipyretics so that dehydration is avoided.