A nurse is caring for a 3-year-old toddler who has heart failure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to promote rest for the toddler?

Caring for a toddler with heart failure requires strategies to decrease cardiac workload by promoting rest. Knowledge of developmental needs and physiological stressors is required to create a stable environment that minimizes anxiety and metabolic demands on the heart. Choice A rationale Visiting a playroom just before bedtime provides excessive stimulation and physical exertion. For a toddler with heart failure, this activity increases oxygen demand and heart rate, which is counterproductive to the goal of promoting restorative rest. Choice B rationale Diuretics should be administered in the morning to prevent nocturia and sleep disturbances. Giving these medications at lunch or later in the day may cause the child to wake up frequently to void, interrupting necessary rest cycles. Choice C rationale Establishing a consistent daily schedule helps the toddler feel secure and reduces anxiety-related stress. Organized routines allow for planned rest periods between activities, which helps lower the metabolic rate and minimizes the workload on the failing myocardium. Choice D rationale Keeping the television on can be overstimulating and may interfere with the toddler's ability to fall asleep deeply. A quiet, calm environment is essential for minimizing sensory input and ensuring the child achieves effective, undisturbed rest periods.