Getting kids to take premed

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Apr 5, 2013

Is it possible to add sugar instead of maple syrup to maybe not add as much to the volume?

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2013

Without a word, place a bottle of "Wonder Bubbles" on the edge of your desk. The brightly colored bottle will get the kid's attention. When the child shows interest, explain that they can blow some bubbles after they drink their goofy juice, and see what happens.

Rhi007 · Apr 7, 2013

Make your own purple juice, it could be water with food colouring or something, and just say 'look I've got goofy juice to' give some to the parents and all take it together that way the child feels less alone....always have a supply of bubble mixture handy as well.

brownbook · Apr 7, 2013

I am assuming you are refering to medicating a child prior to surgery? If my assumption is wrong then what type of procedure are you pre medicating them for?

Why does every child need to be pre medicated? Sure it is nice but it kind of defeats the purpose of making the surgical procedure less traumatic if you have to spend 1/2 hour getting the kid to drink something and they end up crying?

There are ways to make going to surgery less stressful for a child but again maybe you are not referring to surgery?

MunoRN, RN · Apr 8, 2013

This is off topic, but why are you giving children ketamine? Particularly in sub-anesthesia doses, I had thought that got phased out years ago.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2013

This is off topic, but why are you giving children ketamine? Particularly in sub-anesthesia doses, I had thought that got phased out years ago.

I've never given it PO but it's what we do for moderate sedation in my hospital. I don't think we do sedations with anything else unless there an allergy.

brownbook · Apr 8, 2013

I agree with munrorn, we seldom use ketamine, so seldom I hardly know much about it. I think it was only used in cases where the patient was severely agitated and, or, required more than the usual amount of sedation. I heard it had nasty side effects, weird nightmares or hallucinations?

And why isn't the original poster responding?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2013

Hi allnurses. What are some tips and tricks that you use to get young children to take oral premed? So far I say something along the lines of "I made some goofy juice for you" and give it to their parents to give to them in either a small plastic cup with a spoon or a syringe. The premed consists of versed, ketamine, and liquid tylenol, so I've heard it tastes awful. Typically its about 5 mls of fluid. The Dr. once mixed it with maple syrup, but then their is more of it to drink. I'll comment on it being "pretty purple juice" because the Tylenol makes it purple. Also, I'll sit behind the desk and pretend not to be watching them because the kiddies are shy (I have to watch to make sure they take it all and record the time) Any more ideas? I find I am not having good luck and it takes forever to get the kids to take it and sometimes they get crying.

You mix all of these meds together into a nasty concoction? No wonder the kids won't take them... sounds like an awful idea. Especially if they're otherwise NPO and don't get to chase the meds with juice or anything. What are they taking this for? Premed before anesthesia? I've never heard of such a thing... when I worked in the hospital for kids who didn't have an existing IV and needed to be put out, they got the gas mask to induce them and then the IV was placed once they were out and IV anesthesia was initiated.