A nurse is caring for a school-age child following a femoral venous cardiac catheterization. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Keep the affected extremity straight for 4 hr: Keeping the leg straight helps prevent bleeding and hematoma formation at the catheter insertion site. This is a key nursing intervention after femoral venous cardiac catheterization to promote healing and reduce complications. B. Perform a sterile dressing change 8 hr after the procedure: The dressing is typically kept intact unless it becomes soiled or saturated. Routine dressing changes within 8 hours are not necessary and could increase the risk of infection at the insertion site. C. Maintain NPO status for 24 hr following the procedure: Prolonged NPO status is not required after cardiac catheterization. The child can usually resume oral intake once fully awake and stable, with no nausea or vomiting present. D. Assess the pulses above the catheterization site: Pulse assessment should focus on distal pulses below the catheterization site to ensure adequate circulation. Checking pulses above the site does not provide relevant information about perfusion to the affected extremity.