Medication errors occur more frequently in the pediatric population due to:
Availability of different dosage forms of the same medication.
There are many standardized dosing regimens for children.
Children are able to communicate adverse reactions.
There is not a variance among children in body weight, surface area, and organ maturity.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Availability of different dosage forms of the same medication: Pediatric patients often require liquid formulations, divided doses, or off-label preparations. Variability in forms increases the chance of calculation or administration errors, making this the most frequent risk factor.
B. There are many standardized dosing regimens for children: In pediatrics, standardized regimens are limited, and dosing is usually individualized by weight or body surface area. This complexity increases error potential, not the existence of many standardized regimens.
C. Children are able to communicate adverse reactions: Young children often cannot clearly communicate adverse effects, which makes detection of errors harder. This inability to communicate contributes to risk but is not the main cause of errors.
D. There is not a variance among children in body weight, surface area, and organ maturity: There is actually significant variability among children, which complicates dosing and pharmacokinetics. Variability is a major challenge in pediatric medication safety.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Administer 8 mg IV: Giving the highest dose may not be appropriate initially. Since the patient is reporting moderate pain (6/10), the nurse should start with the lowest effective dose within the prescribed range before escalating.
B. Administer 6 mg IV: This is the safest action. Starting with the lowest ordered dose provides pain relief while minimizing the risk of adverse effects such as respiratory depression. The nurse can reassess pain and administer more later if needed.
C. Administer 7 mg IV: While mathematically between 6 and 8, the most clinically prudent and common practice is to use the low or high end of the ordered range, reserving the low dose for initial treatment.
D. Contact the Physician: There is no need to contact the physician because the order is clear, and the nurse can proceed with the lowest dose in the range to manage the patient’s pain safely.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Convert the child's weight from pounds (lb) to kilograms (kg).
Client weight: 35 lbs
1 kg = 2.2 lbs
Weight (kg) = 35 lbs / 2.2 lbs/kg
= 15.909 kg
Calculate the minimum recommended daily dose in milligrams (mg/day).
Minimum recommended rate: 3 mg/kg/day
Minimum daily dose (mg) = Minimum recommended rate (mg/kg/day) x Weight (kg)
= 3 mg/kg/day x 15.909 kg
= 47.727 mg/day.
Calculate the maximum recommended daily dose in milligrams (mg/day).
Maximum recommended rate: 6 mg/kg/day
Maximum daily dose (mg) = Maximum recommended rate (mg/kg/day) x Weight (kg)
= 6 mg/kg/day x 15.909 kg
= 95.455 mg/day
Round the minimum and maximum doses to the nearest tenth
Minimum daily dose: 47.7 mg
Maximum daily dose: 95.5 mg.
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