Question

A toddler is hospitalized for evaluation and management of congenital heart disease (chd). during discharge preparation, the nurse should discuss which topic with the parents? the need to withhold childhood immunizations when to administer prophylactic antibiotics how to perform postural drainage the importance of restricting the child's fat intake submit answer

Answer 1

During discharge preparation for a child with congenital heart disease, the nurse should discuss when to administer prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infective endocarditis during procedures. Other topics like immunizations should be given as recommended unless contraindicated.

Step-by-step explanation:

When preparing for the discharge of a toddler hospitalized with congenital heart disease (CHD), the nurse should discuss when to administer prophylactic antibiotics with the parents. These are important for preventing infective endocarditis during certain medical or dental procedures. Although withholding childhood immunizations, performing postural drainage, and restricting the child's fat intake might be important for some conditions, they are not typically associated with routine discharge instructions for a child with CHD. Instead, a discussion about immunizations should emphasize that they are crucial and should not be withheld unless specifically contraindicated. The closing of cardiac shunts at birth, thermoregulation, and the importance of intestinal flora in newborns should also have been addressed earlier in the hospital course as part of the general education about the infant’s adjustments postnatally but are not as specific to discharge planning for a child with CHD.

Answer 2

Choice (D) is the most correct answer. Discussing how to limit the child's fat intake is a good first step in making sure that the symptoms from CHD do not appear before their time. Having a diet high in fat will only exacerbate the symptoms and bring them on earlier, leading to a higher risk of heart failure.