Author Question: The nurse has been assigned to the pediatric floor. Which nursing interventions indicate this nurse ... (Read 63 times)

nevelica · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse has been assigned to the pediatric floor. Which nursing interventions indicate this nurse understands pharmacokinetic variables in children?

1. Monitoring diagnostic lab work for therapeutic levels of phenobarbital in a premature infant
2. Monitoring blood sugars for hyperglycemia in an infant with eczema requiring frequent applications of topical corticosteroid cream
3. Monitoring a 5-month-old infant taking propranolol (Inderal) for a heart defect for symptoms of toxicity
4. Monitoring a 6-year-old taking salicylates for pain for hepatic toxicity
5. Monitoring a 2-week-old infant taking gentamicin for severe infection for decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Question 2

Which classification(s) of drugs is/are more commonly prescribed for children due to their high incidence of infectious diseases?

1. Respiratory drugs
2. Systemic antibiotics
3. Dermatologic drugs
4. Cardiovascular drugs
5. Musculoskeletal system drugs

kingdude89 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1,2,3
Rationale 1: Low gastric acid production may slow the absorption of weak acids such as phenobarbital.
Rationale 2: The skin of infants is thin and very permeable, allowing topical drugs to be absorbed at a rapid rate. Frequent applications of topical corticosteroid cream can cause a systemic effect of hyperglycemia.
Rationale 3: Prior to 6 months, the child's liver function is immature and produces very small amounts of plasma proteins. This could lead to toxicity with drugs requiring high levels of protein binding such as propranolol (Inderal).
Rationale 4: Metabolic rate reaches adult levels by 5 years of age. Hepatic toxicity from salicylates would be unusual.
Rationale 5: Gentamicin is potentially nephrotoxic. This child has immature kidney function, which may result in an accumulation of the drug and an increased, not decreased, BUN.
Global Rationale: Low gastric acid production may slow the absorption of weak acids such as phenobarbital. The skin of infants is thin and very permeable, allowing topical drugs to be absorbed at a rapid rate. Frequent applications of topical corticosteroid cream can cause a systemic effect of hyperglycemia. Prior to 6 months, the child's liver function is immature and produces very small amounts of plasma proteins. This could lead to toxicity with drugs requiring high levels of protein binding such as propranolol (Inderal). Metabolic rate reaches adult levels by 5 years of age. Hepatic toxicity from salicylates would be unusual. Gentamicin is potentially nephrotoxic. This child has immature kidney function, which may result in an accumulation of the drug and an increased, not decreased, BUN.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1,2,3
Rationale 1: Respiratory drugs such as nasal preparations, cold and cough preparations, and antihistamines are frequently used in children.
Rationale 2: Anti-infective drugs are frequently used in children for conditions such as otitis media and upper respiratory infections.
Rationale 3: Commonly used dermatologic drugs used for children include antifungal medications, emollients for dry skin, and corticosteroids for eczema.
Rationale 4: Cardiovascular drugs are infrequently used in children.
Rationale 5: Musculoskeletal system drugs such as anti-inflammatory drugs are infrequently used in children.
Global Rationale: Respiratory drugs such as nasal preparations, cold and cough preparations, and antihistamines are frequently used in children. Anti-infective drugs are frequently used in children for conditions such as otitis media and upper respiratory infections. Commonly used dermatologic drugs used for children include antifungal medications, emollients for dry skin, and corticosteroids for eczema. Cardiovascular drugs are infrequently used in children. Musculoskeletal system drugs such as anti-inflammatory drugs are infrequently used in children.