Weight-based pediatric dosing, double-checking calculations, and pediatric medication safety concepts tested on NCLEX-RN.
30 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What formula is used to calculate a weight-based pediatric medication dose?
Show answer
Dose in mg per kg of body weight (mg/kg)- Before calculating a pediatric dose, what should the nurse always obtain first?
Show answer
An accurate, current weight in kilograms- Pediatric doses are calculated using the child's weight in ____, not pounds.
Show answer
kilograms- How do you convert a child's weight from pounds to kilograms?
Show answer
Divide the weight in pounds by 2.2- Why does a pediatric nurse perform an independent double-check on a high-alert medication calculation?
Show answer
To catch calculation or decimal errors before the dose reaches the child- What is an independent double-check?
Show answer
A second qualified nurse recalculates the dose separately, without seeing the first nurse's work, then the two results are compared- Name a class of medication that typically requires an independent double-check before pediatric administration.
Show answer
High-alert drugs such as insulin, heparin, opioids, or chemotherapy agents- Why are pediatric patients at higher risk for medication dosing errors than adults?
Show answer
Their small body size means a small calculation error causes a proportionally large overdose- What is the safety rule for a leading zero in a decimal dose?
Show answer
Always place a zero before the decimal point, such as 0.5 mg- What is the safety rule for a trailing zero in a decimal dose?
Show answer
Never write a zero after a decimal point; write 5 mg, not 5.0 mg- Why is a trailing zero after a decimal point dangerous in pediatric dosing?
Show answer
It can be misread as a tenfold higher dose, such as 5.0 mg read as 50 mg- What should a nurse do if a calculated pediatric dose exceeds the standard adult maximum dose for that drug?
Show answer
Question the order; a pediatric dose should not exceed the adult maximum- Which organ's immaturity in infants slows drug metabolism?
Show answer
The liver (immature hepatic function)- Which organ's immaturity in infants slows drug excretion?
Show answer
The kidneys (immature renal function)- How does an infant's higher percentage of total body water affect dosing of water-soluble drugs?
Show answer
It increases the volume of distribution, often requiring a higher weight-based dose
FlashKeepers