Drug question

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Specializes in LTC.

Don't worry, I am not asking for advice on a drug I am actually giving :smokin:

I need to know something in pedi medication administration

When figuring a dose, would you round to tenths like you do for an adult or would you go with the hundreths?

We have been told two different ways and people are getting things mixed up. When on the floor and you are actually figuring a dose for an infant, what do you do?

I want to say hundreths but others say tenths. It seems on an infant, that can be a serious difference.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:yeah::nurse::yeah:

I posted twice b/c I needed to make sure I get an answer from someone... sorry! You guys are just so smart I knew I could find someone, SOMEwhere!

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

It won't help to ask what nurses are doing in actual practice. Clarify with your instructor what he/she is looking for. If they don't want to clarify, refer to the books, that is the best answer. After all, it will be your test/clinical they are grading...

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just my 2cents but especially with kids,,,the more precise the dose the better. if the number is something you can give do it. i mean 0.005 and 0.05 of morphine make a huge difference on a neonate.

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As a pediatric nurse for 21 years, I was taught and have always done in my practice the following: give the most accurate dose, and do not round the answer. Think of the syringes that you have available, and give the most accurate dose from the syringe, be it measured in tenths (usu a 3 cc syringe) or a tuberculin syringe (measured in hundredths).

That said, if you are a student in school, you need to talk with your instructor to see what their expectations are with regards to to rounding, and follow that for your tests so your grade will be good.Unfortunately, there is not a universal rule for pediatric dosages in the workplace, so if you ever work pediatrics, I suggest talking with a pediatric pharmacist at your facility for their advice with accurate calculations. They usually are part of orientation, so you can usually catch them there before you ever give a dose.

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Specializes in LTC.

Thanks to you! The hard part is there are three instructors and two have different answers and the other was fired. I have been tutoring classmates and just trying to get a grips on the little things ;) Thank you though!

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Agree with the most accurate possible dose with the equipment at hand. If I'm not comfortable with that I go to the charge nurse/ pharmacy. house supervisor for help.

Just to muddy the waters, remember that the manufacturer has some leeway in manufacturing, dosage strength usually decreases with age, and we're allowed a certain leeway. Serial errors I think they called it in school.

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Specializes in med/surg, cardiology, advanced care.

Definitely consult the pharmacy and the P&P manual and any other resources available. Safety first always.

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