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Difficulty: MediumPharmacological Therapies

A practical nurse (PN) is preparing to administer a prescribed oral liquid suspension of ibuprofen to an 18-month-old toddler. Which action should the PN take to ensure safe medication administration?

  1. Administer the liquid medication using a calibrated oral syringe directed toward the side of the client's cheek.Answer
  2. B
    Measure the prescribed dose using a standard household teaspoon provided by the client's parents.
  3. C
    Mix the medication into a full 8 oz8\text{ oz} (240 mL240\text{ mL}) cup of the toddler's favorite juice to mask the taste.
  4. D
    Gently hold the toddler's nose closed to stimulate swallowing if the child refuses the medication.

Answer

The practical nurse should measure the dose using a calibrated oral syringe and administer it by directing the liquid toward the side of the toddler's cheek.
Administering oral liquids to a toddler using a calibrated oral syringe directed toward the buccal pouch (the side of the cheek) is the safest and most effective method. This approach ensures precise measurement of the medication and significantly reduces the risk of aspiration by preventing the fluid from forcefully hitting the back of the throat.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the safest and most accurate method to measure an oral liquid medication for a pediatric client.
A calibrated oral syringe must be selected rather than household utensils.
Household spoons lack standardized volumes, creating a high risk for dosage errors in small children.
2
Identify the safest anatomical technique to administer the liquid to a toddler to prevent choking.
The medication should be deposited slowly into the buccal pouch (the side of the cheek).
Directing the fluid away from the back of the throat allows the child time to swallow normally and minimizes the risk of aspiration.

Key Concept

Safe Pediatric Oral Medication Administration
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Topics

Pharmacological Therapies

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