Key Concepts
Overview
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) ties high-yield nursing judgment to airway, perfusion, infection control, and safe medication administration. TOF combines four anatomic issues—ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta, right ventricular outflow obstruction, and right ventricular hypertrophy—producing a cyanotic lesion with hypercyanotic spells when pulmonary blood flow suddenly drops. Nurses anticipate crying, feeding, or agitation as triggers for spells and know positioning (knee-chest) and calm, oxygen, and urgent escalation themes appear on exams. Postoperative TOF care overlaps with other congenital heart pathways: arrhythmia surveillance, incision care, and family teaching about activity and endocarditis precautions when applicable. Cross-link US RN lessons hub · Canada RN lessons hub and related LESSON cards where the stem crosses systems. Pathophysiology in plain language. Think in layers: cells → organs → whole-person compensation. When a stem describes acute change (fever, pain, new neuro deficit, hypoxia, hypotension), ask what system is failing to compensate and what reversible threat is most time-sensitive. Nurses are the continuity layer: you trend objective data, reconcile subjective reports, and prevent “task completion” from replacing “problem recognition.” Risk factors and epidemiology (exam framing). NCLEX-style items...