Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 78%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
The nurse is caring for a newly-admitted infant diagnosed with 'failure to thrive,' taking blood pressures in all four extremities.Which congenital cardiac defect does the nurse anticipate based on the prescribed order?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
The correct answer is D: Coarctation of the aorta. The nurse can anticipate this defect based on the prescribed order because coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing of the aorta, leading to decreased blood flow to the lower body. This condition often presents with symptoms such as high blood pressure in the upper body and weak or absent pulses in the lower extremities. Pulmonary atresia (A) is a condition where the pulmonary valve is not formed properly, leading to inadequate blood flow to the lungs. Tetralogy of Fallot (B) is a combination of four heart defects, not typically associated with coarctation of the aorta. Ventricular septal defect (C) is a hole in the heart's wall between the two lower chambers, not related to aortic narrowing.