An atrial septal defect may look subtle on the surface—but the physiology is busy in the heart. In this high-yield episode, Dr. Morgan Taylor, DNP, CPNP, CCRN, makes a complex congenital heart disorder easy to understand. 

We’ll cover: 

• A practice “Select All That Apply”question on expected ASD findings 

• The two-story house analogy (atria upstairs, ventricles downstairs) and why blood shunts left → right 

• Pulmonary overcirculation: how extra flow to the lungs drives fatigue, frequent respiratory infections, and a systolic crescendo–decrescendo murmur 

• A teen case of syncope revealing a large ASD—and how cath-lab closure changes everything 

• Nursing priorities: assessment clues, when to escalate, and what NOT to expect

Perfect for: nursing students, new grad nurses, and anyone prepping for cardiology exams or the NCLEX who wants ASD to finally click. 

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Use code PULSECHECK10 - an exclusive discount just for our listeners! 

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