Final answer:
A nurse assessing an infant with a ventricular septal defect would expect to find a loud, harsh murmur due to turbulent blood flow through the septal opening.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing an infant with a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a nurse should expect to find a loud, harsh murmur. This murmur is due to the turbulent blood flow passing through the abnormal opening in the septum that divides the left and right ventricles of the heart. Using a stethoscope, heart sounds such as these can be auscultated, and the murmurs are often graded on a scale from 1 to 6, with 6 being the most severe. A murmur graded as loud and harsh often signifies a significant septal defect and is commonly detected during a physical examination. While dysrhythmias, weak femoral pulses, and high BP can be associated with heart conditions, they are not specific findings in infants with a VSD.