Congenital Heart Defects (NCLEX) Nursing Quiz

1. Truncus arteriosus is a rare defect where a single arterial trunk arises from the heart. How many cusps does the truncal valve typically have?

Two

Three

Four

Five or more

2. Balloon atrial septostomy (Rashkind procedure) is an emergency intervention for transposition of the great arteries. What does this procedure create?

A larger ASD to allow mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood

A new pulmonary artery

A shunt from the aorta to the pulmonary artery

Closure of the ductus arteriosus

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4. Which congenital heart defect is most commonly associated with Down syndrome (trisomy 21)?

Tetralogy of Fallot

Endocardial cushion defect

Hypoplastic left heart

Coarctation of the aorta

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6. Endocarditis prophylaxis is recommended for certain congenital heart defects. Which defect carries the highest risk?

Small isolated ASD

Patent foramen ovale alone

Ventricular septal defect with turbulent flow

Surgically repaired simple defect after 6 months

7. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is used in ductal-dependent lesions to keep the ductus arteriosus open. Which defect would NOT benefit from PGE1?

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Transposition of the great arteries

Isolated atrial septal defect

Critical pulmonary stenosis

8. A child with a large VSD develops signs of congestive heart failure (CHF). Which medication class is first-line to reduce preload and improve cardiac output?

Beta-blockers

Diuretics

Vasodilators

Inotropes

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10. A newborn with cyanotic heart disease shows severe hypoxemia unresponsive to supplemental oxygen. Which defect is most likely?

Patent foramen ovale

Transposition of the great arteries

Small atrial septal defect

Mild pulmonary stenosis

11. An atrial septal defect (ASD) allows left-to-right shunting. Which chamber receives the increased blood volume?

Right atrium

Right ventricle

Left ventricle

Pulmonary artery

12. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) occurs when all four pulmonary veins drain into the systemic venous circulation. What is the most critical nursing concern?

Hypertension

Pulmonary edema from increased pulmonary blood flow

Severe hypoxemia and cyanosis

Bradycardia

13. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) involves underdevelopment of the left ventricle and aorta. What is the initial treatment?

Immediate valve replacement

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) to keep ductus arteriosus patent

Diuretics and ACE inhibitors

Oxygen supplementation alone

14. A nurse assesses a newborn with coarctation of the aorta. Which vital sign finding is characteristic?

High blood pressure in upper extremities, low in lower

Hypotension throughout

Elevated heart rate and respiratory rate

Bounding pulses in all extremities

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16. Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is incompatible with life unless what communication exists between the atria?

Patent foramen ovale

Pulmonary stenosis

Ventricular septal defect

Patent ductus arteriosus

17. A child with Tetralogy of Fallot assumes a squatting position during a hypercyanotic spell. Why does this position help?

Increases systemic vascular resistance

Decreases pulmonary blood flow

Relieves chest pressure

Improves oxygenation directly

18. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a cyanotic heart defect. Which of the following is NOT one of the four defects?

Pulmonary stenosis

Ventricular septal defect

Atrial septal defect

Right ventricular hypertrophy

19. In ventricular septal defect (VSD), the size of the defect determines the severity of shunting. A small restrictive VSD typically causes what clinical finding?

Severe cyanosis

Loud systolic murmur with minimal symptoms

No murmur

Early signs of heart failure

20. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) results in a continuous 'machinery' murmur. Which two vessels remain abnormally connected?

Aorta and pulmonary artery

Superior vena cava and right atrium

Left atrium and right atrium

Pulmonary artery and left ventricle

Congenital Heart Quiz: Can You Match the Defect?

1. Truncus arteriosus is a rare defect where a single arterial trunk arises from the heart. How many cusps does the truncal valve typically have?

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. Balloon atrial septostomy (Rashkind procedure) is an emergency intervention for transposition of the great arteries. What does this procedure create?

3. An infant with a large left-to-right shunt develops pulmonary edema and poor feeding. The priority nursing intervention is to monitor for signs of ____.

4. Which congenital heart defect is most commonly associated with Down syndrome (trisomy 21)?

5. A nurse teaches parents about their infant's PDA. The ductus arteriosus normally closes within ____ hours after birth.

6. Endocarditis prophylaxis is recommended for certain congenital heart defects. Which defect carries the highest risk?

7. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is used in ductal-dependent lesions to keep the ductus arteriosus open. Which defect would NOT benefit from PGE1?

8. A child with a large VSD develops signs of congestive heart failure (CHF). Which medication class is first-line to reduce preload and improve cardiac output?

9. In acyanotic heart defects with left-to-right shunting, chronic increased pulmonary blood flow can eventually lead to pulmonary vascular disease. This is called ____.

10. A newborn with cyanotic heart disease shows severe hypoxemia unresponsive to supplemental oxygen. Which defect is most likely?

11. An atrial septal defect (ASD) allows left-to-right shunting. Which chamber receives the increased blood volume?

12. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) occurs when all four pulmonary veins drain into the systemic venous circulation. What is the most critical nursing concern?

13. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) involves underdevelopment of the left ventricle and aorta. What is the initial treatment?

14. A nurse assesses a newborn with coarctation of the aorta. Which vital sign finding is characteristic?

15. Coarctation of the aorta causes a narrowing that typically occurs distal to the ____.

16. Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is incompatible with life unless what communication exists between the atria?

17. A child with Tetralogy of Fallot assumes a squatting position during a hypercyanotic spell. Why does this position help?

18. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a cyanotic heart defect. Which of the following is NOT one of the four defects?

19. In ventricular septal defect (VSD), the size of the defect determines the severity of shunting. A small restrictive VSD typically causes what clinical finding?

20. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) results in a continuous 'machinery' murmur. Which two vessels remain abnormally connected?