Chapter 05: Special Populations: Pediatrics

Chapter 05: Special Populations: Pediatrics

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A nurse practitioner (NP) is preparing to prescribe a medication for a 5-year-old child. To determine the correct dose for this child, the NP should:

ANS:  D

The package insert provided by the manufacturer is the best source for pediatric dose recommendations. Approximated reduction in the adult dose is not a safe or effective way of calculating pediatric doses of medications, so using a third of the adult dose may not be safe. Errors inherent in determining BSA make this method less reliable than dose based on accurate weights. Dividing the adult dose by the child’s weight is incorrect.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   64 – 65

2. An NP is prescribing a drug that is known to be safe in children but is unable to find recommendations about drug dosing. The recommended adult dose is 100 mg per dose. The child weighs 14 kg. Using Clark’s rule, the NP should order _____ mg per dose.

ANS:  A

Clark’s rule suggests dividing the weight of the child in kg by the weight of an adult in kg and multiplying the result by the adult dose to get an approximation of the child’s dose. The average adult weighs 150 lb, or 70 kg. The equation is: 14 kg/70 kg = 0.2. 0.2 ´ 100 = 20 mg.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   65

3. A child who weighs 22 lb, 2 oz needs a medication. The NP learns that the recommended dosing for this drug is 25 to 30 mg per kg per day in three divided doses. The NP should order:

ANS:  B

The NP should first convert the child’s weight to kg, which is about 10 kg. The dose is then calculated to be 250 to 300 mg per day in three divided doses, which is 83 to 100 mg per dose given tid.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)                           REF:   65

4. The mother of a 3-year-old child who weighs 15 kg tells the NP that she has liquid acetaminophen at home but does not know what dose to give her child. The NP should tell the mother:

ANS:  D

Acetaminophen drops for infants are three times as concentrated as the oral liquid for children. The drops have been pulled from the market, but many parents may still have old preparations on hand. The NP should first determine which preparation this mother has before giving dosage recommendations. If the mother has the oral liquid for children, answers A and C would both be acceptable because the concentration is 160 mg per 5 mL. The mother should not be counseled to throw away the medication until the NP has more information.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)                           REF:   65