A nurse is preparing to administer a dexamethasone 1.5 mg/kg/day PO to divide equally every 6 hr to a preschool-age child who weighs 22 lb. Available is dexamethasone oral solution 1 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

A. "He takes his medication between meals with water." Taking carbamazepine with food helps reduce gastrointestinal upset, but taking it between meals is not critical unless there are specific issues. This is not a priority unless the patient is experiencing significant GI discomfort.

B. "He only sleeps about 5 hours each night." Insufficient sleep can exacerbate seizure disorders, but it is not directly life-threatening. Improving sleep hygiene is important but not the most immediate concern compared to other symptoms.

C. "He seems to be getting a lot more bumps and bruises lately." Increased bruising can indicate thrombocytopenia, a potential side effect of carbamazepine, which can lead to serious bleeding issues. This is the priority as it may indicate a severe adverse effect requiring immediate medical attention and possible adjustment of medication.

D. "He has not been eating as much lately." Decreased appetite can be a side effect of many medications, including carbamazepine, but it is generally not immediately dangerous unless it leads to significant weight loss or nutritional deficiencies. It’s important but not the most urgent concern.

A. "Give her acetaminophen, not aspirin." This is the appropriate response. Acetaminophen is commonly recommended for treating fever in children as it is safer and does not carry the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious condition associated with aspirin use in children and adolescents, particularly when they have viral infections. This response provides a safe alternative and addresses the immediate concern of fever treatment.

B. "You'll have to call your physician." While consulting a physician is generally good advice, this response does not provide immediate guidance or address the potential risks of giving aspirin to a toddler. It leaves the parent without immediate and necessary information to prevent harm.

C. "Follow the directions on the aspirin bottle for her age and weight." This response is inappropriate and potentially harmful. Aspirin should not be given to children, especially without a physician's guidance, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome. Following dosage directions on an aspirin bottle is unsafe for a toddler, as aspirin is not recommended for children in this age group for fever treatment.

D. "Give her no more than three baby aspirin every 4 hours." This is incorrect and dangerous advice. Giving any amount of aspirin to a toddler is not recommended because of the risk of Reye's syndrome. Suggesting a specific dosage implies that it's safe to give aspirin to a child, which it is not in this context.