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Difficulty: MediumPharmacological Therapies

A practical nurse (PN) is preparing to administer a scheduled dose of oral amoxicillin to a 3-year-old toddler weighing 15 kg15\text{ kg} who was admitted with a severe respiratory infection. Which of the following actions demonstrate safe pharmacological practice by the PN? Select all that apply.

  1. Verifying the toddler's identity by having the parent state the child's full name and date of birth.Answer
  2. Scanning the medication barcode and the toddler's identification band prior to dispensing the dose.Answer
  3. C
    Converting the toddler's weight from kilograms to pounds prior to calculating the prescribed dosage.
  4. D
    Accepting a verbal order from the healthcare provider to administer the medication via intravenous (IV) push.
  5. E
    Leaving the oral medication syringe at the bedside for the parent to administer once the toddler is awake.
  6. Withholding the scheduled dose and notifying the registered nurse (RN) after observing a new urticarial rash.Answer

Answer

The correct actions include verifying the child's identity with the parent, utilizing barcode scanning for the medication and ID band, and withholding the medication if an allergic rash is noted.
Safe pharmacological practice requires strict adherence to the rights of medication administration and practicing within the legal scope. Verifying a pediatric client's identity through a parent and utilizing barcode scanning prevent identification errors. Furthermore, recognizing signs of a hypersensitivity reaction, such as an urticarial rash, and properly withholding the drug while notifying the RN demonstrates sound clinical judgment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate each action against the standard rights of medication administration.
Verifying identity with the parent and scanning barcodes directly support the 'right client' and 'right medication' checks.
Ensuring proper identification prevents medication errors, especially in pediatric populations.
2
Assess the clinical findings and the practical nurse (PN) scope of practice for each scenario.
Withholding the drug for a rash is a safe, necessary action. Administering an IV push medication is out of scope.
The PN must recognize signs of adverse reactions and operate strictly within defined legal boundaries.
3
Analyze the procedural and calculation methods described in the distractors.
Converting kilograms to pounds for a weight-based dose is incorrect, and leaving medications at the bedside violates administration protocols.
Standard pediatric dosing relies on kilogram measurements, and direct observation of ingestion is mandatory for safety.

Key Concept

Medication Administration Safety and PN Scope of Practice
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Topics

Pharmacological Therapies

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