Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 6 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.
Which reflex causes the newborn's toes to fan out when the sole is stroked from heel to toe?
Just after the membranes rupture, there is painless vaginal bleeding and the fetal heart rate drops sharply. The mother's vital signs are normal. Which condition is most likely?
A child weighing 32 kg is prescribed 4 mg/kg of a drug. The stock solution contains 20 mg/mL. Draw up the dose: what volume V do you give?
A child weighing 14 kg is prescribed 12.5 mg/kg per dose of an oral suspension that contains 125 mg in 5 mL. What volume V do you give?
Infuse 1500 mL over 3 hours with a giving set of 10 gtt/mL. Find the drip rate R in drops per minute. Round to the nearest whole number.
A drip runs at 50 gtt/min through a set of 15 gtt/mL. There are 300 mL left in the bag. How many hours t until it is empty?
Answer: C · Babinski reflex
The Babinski reflex, fanning of the toes with dorsiflexion of the big toe, is normal in infants until about 1 year. Pressing the sole near the toes gives the plantar grasp instead.
Answer: D · Ruptured vasa praevia
Rupture of the membranes can tear unprotected fetal vessels in vasa praevia. Fetal blood loss causes rapid bradycardia while the mother stays stable. An emergency caesarean is needed.
Answer: V = 6.4 mL
Drawing up a dose: volume = (prescribed dose/stock strength) × stock volume. Convert to the same units first, then check that the volume fits the syringe and lands on one of its graduations.
On this 10 mL syringe every small line is 0.2 mL.
Answer: V = 7 mL
Dose calculation: the amount to give equals what is prescribed divided by what you have, times the quantity it comes in: amount = (desired dose/stock strength) × stock volume. Always keep the units the same (convert g to mg, mg to mcg first) and check that the answer is sensible.
Answer: R = 83 gtt/min
Infusion rates: a pump is set in mL/h = volume/time in hours. A gravity drip is counted in drops per minute: gtt/min = volume (mL) × drop factor (gtt/mL)/time (min). The drop factor is printed on the tubing package: macrodrip sets deliver 10, 15 or 20 gtt/mL (blood sets often 10 gtt/mL in the US, 15 in the UK) and microdrip sets 60 gtt/mL. Always use the drop factor the question or package gives.
At the bedside you round to the nearest whole drop: 83 gtt/min.
Answer: t = 1.5 h
Infusion rates: a pump is set in mL/h = volume/time in hours. A gravity drip is counted in drops per minute: gtt/min = volume (mL) × drop factor (gtt/mL)/time (min). The drop factor is printed on the tubing package: macrodrip sets deliver 10, 15 or 20 gtt/mL (blood sets often 10 gtt/mL in the US, 15 in the UK) and microdrip sets 60 gtt/mL. Always use the drop factor the question or package gives.
ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/maternity-nursing