The mother of a 6-year-old girl with congestive heart failure tells the ER nurse that she is worried and says, "She's been so tired lately. She seems to get out of breath just walking around the house." Which of the following represents an effective nursing intervention to decrease cardiac workload?

Explanation

• Scheduling care to provide for uninterrupted periods of sleep reduces cardiac demands and workload.

• Administering supplemental oxygen decreases myocardial workload.

• Activity increases metabolic and myocardial oxygen demands, further impairing cardiopulmonary tissue perfusion and compromising cardiac function.

• Developing a consistent plan of care can be important but is unrelated to decreasing cardiac workload.

• Provide small frequent meals because eating requires energy expenditure. Small, frequent meals prevent overtiring, which can further compromise heart function and also interfere with nutrition.

• Although comforting contact and support can help to alleviate anxiety, too much stimulation can increase anxiety and cardiac workload.

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