How do you coax children to take medicine, especially horrible-tasting antibiotics?
Do you feel it is ok to hold the child down to feed oral meds, of course, with parents' consent.
I have experience a few encounters that the child would refuse to take medicines, and we need to hold the child down to feed the medicine. Some parents have even told us to pinch the child's nose as we push the medicine in.
In a 32-bedded paediatric medical ward, we seek parent's cooperation to feed the medications, but when we do our rounds, we will find the medicine still sitting around, and it can cause medication errors.
Can you guys given me some feedback or suggestion on how we can improve our medication adiministration. Each team (of 2~3 nurses) takes care of about 9 to 12 patients.
I've never found flavoring to work. But we only had the Cherry kind and it just smelled mediciney to me anyway. I doubted it covered any taste. Plus added volume in the end.
-If they are infants use the binky to your advantage and sneak it in while they are sucking on binky.
-Bribery within reason (not a toy for every single oral med).
-Counting and distraction.
-Squirt in sides of mouth, harder to spit (or at least not a direct way...though sputtering is very effective if they figure that out).
-Involve the parents. If the kid just doesn't like me I have parents give the med (while I am watching).
I learned to stroke their throat and blow in their face to make them swallow, while squirting it in the side of their mouth (along their teeth/gums). Usually while wrapped in a blanket. Honestly, I learned that trick from giving my dog meds, but it totally works on kids! Especially blowing on their face (or having the parents do it, usually), it's like magic!
I like the maple syrup and Irish jig suggestions though!
I have never initiated holding a child down for oral meds. If the child needs to be held down, it's up to the parent to do it. I ask the parents "how does Johnny take his meds?" and then run with whatever they say.
I have never initiated holding a child down for oral meds. If the child needs to be held down, it's up to the parent to do it. I ask the parents "how does Johnny take his meds?" and then run with whatever they say.
Which is all good until they reply:
"Oh, we can't get him to take any meds, ever."
I have had parents opt to stay in patient for 10 days of IV ABX rather than to take the kids home with oral PO.
I have had parents opt to stay in patient for 10 days of IV ABX rather than to take the kids home with oral PO.
Basic. Life. Skill.
In that case, a joint session with Child Life, Social Work and Nursing is in order. In general, we don't keep kids in the hospital just for IV antibiotics. That can be managed at home.
I actually had a patient that had the opposite problem. She faked being sick because she loved the way the grape liquid Advil her parents would tasted.
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
I had to take liquid Clindamyasin (sp) when I broke my jaw, and can attest that I would have rather drank toilet water! Even with flavoring it didn't mask that terrible taste of it, and the CVS warned me, and they were right! That was after they encouraged me to take the pills instead, assuming I was just being a wimp and wouldn't swallow them :/, until i informed them of the jaw wiring that was taking place the next day. She quickly shut up!
Anywho since I can now sympathize with kids I am much more patient with them. I will say a nurse taught me a trick a while ago and that is to take your fingers and gently push in on each cheek because it usually prevents them from spitting it back out and they have to swallow it. I also take the nipple of a bottle, if they are still using one, and put the medication directly into the nipple and most younger children will suck it right out. It is usually gone before they realize it wasn't milk or juice.
WoosahRN, MSN, RN
278 Posts
I've never found flavoring to work. But we only had the Cherry kind and it just smelled mediciney to me anyway. I doubted it covered any taste. Plus added volume in the end.
-If they are infants use the binky to your advantage and sneak it in while they are sucking on binky.
-Bribery within reason (not a toy for every single oral med).
-Counting and distraction.
-Squirt in sides of mouth, harder to spit (or at least not a direct way...though sputtering is very effective if they figure that out).
-Involve the parents. If the kid just doesn't like me I have parents give the med (while I am watching).