Basic Care and ComfortQuestion 1293 of 2368

The nurse keeps an infant with a heart defect in a warming bed and treats fevers promptly. What is the rationale for this care?

  1. Temperature changes cause the ductus arteriosus to reopen
  2. Warmth increases the stroke volume of the immature heart
  3. Shifts in body temperature increase cardiac workload and oxygen demand
  4. A stable temperature prevents pulmonary vascular resistance from falling
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Correct answer: Shifts in body temperature increase cardiac workload and oxygen demand

Both cold and fever make the heart work harder and need more oxygen. A stable temperature lowers that demand.

Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), Congenital Heart Defects: Nursing Interventions. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Basic Care and Comfort"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026