NCLEX/HESI Pediatric Medication Administration and Calculations
The nurse is providing medication instructions to a parent. Which statement by the parent indicates a need for FURTHER instruction?
"I need to mix the medication in the baby food and give it when I feed my child." *Do not give medicine in food because the child might refuse the food in the future.
Medication administration Guidlines
-Two identifiers. -Past successful methods. -Drug allergies. -No meds in food. -Juice/soft drinks. -Always read indications.
Weight based calculation (mg): Ceftriaxone 500 mg IV daily is prescribed. The child weighs 15 lb. Per pharmacy, the safe dose is 50 to 75 mg/kg/dose. Is the prescribed dose safe for the child?
15 lb÷2.2 kg = 6.8 kg 6.8kg × 50mg = 340mg/dose 6.8kg × 75 mg = 510 mg/dose so 500 is safe.
Sulfisoxazole, 1 g orally twice daily, is prescribed for an adolescent with a urinary tract infection. The medication label reads "500-mg tablets." The nurse has determined that the dosage prescribed is safe. The nurse administers how many tablets per dose to the adolescent?
2 tablets Desired/Available × Tablet = 1000 mg/500 mg × Tablet = 2 tablets
Atropine sulfate, 0.6 mg intramuscularly, is prescribed for a child preoperatively. The nurse has determined that the dose prescribed is safe and prepares to administer how many milliliters to the child? Fill in the blank (refer to figure).
7.5 Desired/Available × Volume = 0.6 mg/0.4 mg × 1 mL = 1.5 mL
The nurse prepares to administer an intramuscular injection to a 4-month-old infant. The nurse selects which best site to administer the injection?
Vastus lateralis
The child has a prescription for ampicillin 850 mg IV every 6 hours. The child weighs 36 lb. Per pharmacy, the safe dose is 50 mg/kg/dose IV every 6 hours. Is the prescribed dose safe for the child?
36 lb ÷ 2.2 kg = 16.4 kg 16.4kg × 50mg = 820 mg/dose so 850 is not safe.
A pediatrician's prescription reads "ampicillin sodium 125 mg IV every 6 hours." The medication label reads "when reconstituted with 7.4 mL of bacteriostatic water, the final concentration is 1 g/7.4 mL." The nurse prepares to draw up how many milliliters to administer 1 dose?
0.925 mL 1g=1000mg Desired/Available × Volume = 125 mg/1000 mg × 7.4 mL = 0.925 mL per dose
Penicillin G procaine, 1,000,000 units IM (intramuscularly), is prescribed for an adolescent with an infection. The medication label reads "1,200,000 units per 2 mL." The nurse has determined that the dose prescribed is safe. The nurse administers how many milliliters per dose to the adolescent? Round answer to the nearest tenth position.
1.7 mL Desired/Available × Volume = 1, 000, 000/ 1, 200, 000 × 2 mL = 1.66 = 1.7 mL per dose
A pediatric client with ventricular septal defect repair is placed on a maintenance dosage of digoxin. The dosage is 8 mcg/kg/day, and the client's weight is 7.2 kg. The pediatrician prescribes the digoxin to be given twice daily. The nurse prepares how many mcg of digoxin to administer to the child at each dose?
28.8 mcg 8 mcg× 7.2 kg = 57.6 mcg/day. 57.6 mcg / day /2 doses = 28.8 mcg for each dose
