Final answer:
A nurse assessing a child with a ventricular septal defect should expect to detect an abnormal heart murmur during auscultation. Ventricular septal defects are usually associated with a holosystolic murmur rather than a diastolic murmur, and are confirmed through medical imaging such as echocardiography for diagnosis and treatment planning.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing a child who has a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a nurse can expect to detect an abnormal heart murmur characterized by turbulent blood flow through the septal opening. This is commonly first identified through auscultation. A distinct murmur rather than the normal "lub-dub" heart sounds is heard. VSD is one of several congenital heart defects which also include Tetralogy of Fallot and patent ductus arteriosus. Such defects are often confirmed for diagnosis and treatment planning through medical imaging, such as echocardiography.
Murmurs associated with VSD are typically holosystolic (present throughout systole) and can vary in intensity. They are graded on a scale from 1 to 6, with higher numbers indicating greater severity. The finding of a diastolic murmur, as mentioned in the question, is less commonly associated with VSD, as these defects usually result in systolic murmurs. However, if a heart condition was to cause a diastolic murmur, it would indicate an issue with heart relaxation and filling, such as valve insufficiency or stenosis.