The nurse is planning care for an 8-month-old infant with a ventricular septal defect. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse use to help guide the care for this patient?

Question

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Ventricular septal defect is the most common type of congenital cardiac disorder. With this disorder, an opening is present in the septum between the two ventricles. Blood shunts from left to right across the septum impairing the efficiency of the heart because blood that should be forced into the aorta and out to the body from contraction of the left ventricle shunts back into the pulmonary circulation, resulting in right ventricular hypertrophy and increased pressure in the pulmonary artery. This disorder does not impair gas exchange, cause impaired skin integrity, or cause ineffective airway clearance.

The Nurse Is Planning Care for an 8-Month-Old Infant with a Ventricular