Pediatric Nursing: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 6 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Pediatric nursing

Method

  1. Note the child’s age first: it sets the normal vital signs, the milestones and the right pain scale.
  2. Assess airway, breathing and circulation, remembering that children compensate and then deteriorate fast.
  3. Match the action to the development stage and involve the family.
  4. Check that the answer is safe for a child: weight-based, no aspirin in viral illness, no codeine under 12.

Pediatric & critical-care dosing

Daily dose
mg/day = mg/kg/day × weight (kg)
Doses per day
number = 24 h / dosing interval (h)
Pounds to kilograms
kg = lb / 2.2
Infusion concentration
units/mL = units in bag / bag volume
Pump rate
mL/h = dose per hour / concentration
Titrated drip
mL/h = mcg/kg/min × kg × 60 / (mcg/mL)
Dose from pump rate
mcg/kg/min = mL/h × (mcg/mL) / (60 × kg)
Units
1 mg = 1000 mcg

IV fluids & fluid balance

Holliday–Segar per hour
4 mL/kg (first 10 kg) + 2 mL/kg (next 10 kg) + 1 mL/kg (each kg above 20)
Holliday–Segar per day
100 / 50 / 20 mL/kg for the same bands
Fluid balance
intake − output
Ice chips
count as half their volume
Urine output
mL/kg/h = mL / (kg × h)
Infusion time
time (h) = volume left (mL) / rate (mL/h)
Volume infused
mL = rate × time

2Practice problems

1.Pediatric nursingMedium

Which factors can trigger a sickle cell crisis?

  1. ADehydration, infection, cold and low oxygen
  2. BDrinking plenty of water during hot weather
  3. CSleeping for long periods in a warm room
  4. DEating a high-iron diet and taking daily multivitamins
2.Pediatric nursingHard

A baby born at 27 weeks has grunting, chest retractions and rising oxygen needs. Which treatment directly addresses the cause?

  1. ASurfactant given into the trachea
  2. BIV antibiotics for 7 days
  3. COral glucose gel rubbed into the gums
  4. DPhototherapy
3.Pediatric & critical-care dosingMedium
12 500 units250 mLheparin? mL/h80 kg14 units/kg/h

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A bag contains 12 500 units of heparin in 250 mL. The order is 14 units/kg/h for a patient who weighs 80 kg. At what rate R do you set the pump, in mL/h? Round to one decimal place.

12 500 units/250 mL14 units/kg/h80 kg
R = mL/h
4.Pediatric & critical-care dosingHard
250 mg250 mLdobutamine? mL/h100 kg2.5 mcg/kg/min

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A bag contains dobutamine 250 mg in 250 mL. The order is 2.5 mcg/kg/min for a patient who weighs 100 kg. At what rate R do you set the pump, in mL/h? Round to one decimal place.

250 mg/250 mL2.5 mcg/kg/min100 kg
R = mL/h
5.IV fluids & fluid balanceMedium
IntakeOutput12-hour shiftjelly100 mLjuice150 mLIV infusion50 mL/h × 12 hIV antibiotic1 × 100 mLurine200 mLurine250 mLurine300 mLurine250 mLwound drain80 mLvomit250 mL

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). The record shows a patient's intake and output for one 12-hour shift. The IV infusion ran at the rate shown for the whole shift. Find the total intake I in mL.

jelly: 100 mLjuice: 150 mLIV infusion: 50 mL/h × 12 hIV antibiotic: 1 × 100 mL
I = mL
6.IV fluids & fluid balanceHard
1000 mL50 mL/hstart 11:1519:15: ? mL

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A 1000 mL bag was started at 11:15 and runs by pump at 50 mL/h. How many mL V are left in the bag at 19:15?

1000 mL50 mL/h11:15 → 19:15
V = mL

3Solutions

1.Pediatric nursing

Answer: A · Dehydration, infection, cold and low oxygen

Why this is the answer

Low oxygen, dehydration, acidosis, cold, infection and stress promote sickling and blocked blood vessels. Families are taught to keep the child well hydrated and warm and to seek help early with fever or pain.

Answer

A · Dehydration, infection, cold and low oxygen
2.Pediatric nursing

Answer: A · Surfactant given into the trachea

Why this is the answer

Respiratory distress syndrome in preterm babies is caused by surfactant deficiency. Exogenous surfactant given via the airway, with respiratory support such as CPAP, improves lung compliance. Antibiotics are often started too, because infection can look similar.

Answer

A · Surfactant given into the trachea
3.Pediatric & critical-care dosing

Answer: R = 22.4 mL/h

Heparin and insulin infusions: concentration = units in the bag/bag volume (units/mL). Pump rate (mL/h) = units per hour/concentration, and units per hour = mL/h × concentration. For a weight-based order, units/h = units/kg/h × weight first. A bolus volume = units needed/vial strength. The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.

Units per hour

14·80 = 1 120 units/h

Concentration

12 500/250 = 50 units/mL

Pump rate

R = 1120/50 = 22.4 mL/h

Answer

R = 22.4 mL/h
4.Pediatric & critical-care dosing

Answer: R = 15 mL/h

Titrated drips: first find the concentration in mcg/mL (mg × 1000/mL). For a weight-based order, mcg/min = mcg/kg/min × weight. Then mL/h = mcg/min × 60/concentration. Working backwards, mcg/kg/min = mL/h × concentration/(60 × weight). The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.

Concentration

250 mg = 250 000 mcg
250 000/250 = 1000 mcg/mL

Dose per minute and per hour

2.5·100 = 250 mcg/min
250·60 = 15000 mcg/h

Pump rate

R = 15000/1000 = 15 mL/h

Answer

R = 15 mL/h
5.IV fluids & fluid balance

Answer: I = 950 mL

Intake and output: intake counts everything that goes in (oral fluids, IV infusions, IV medications and flushes, tube feeds); ice chips count as half their volume. Output counts urine, drains, vomit and other losses. Balance = total intake − total output; a negative balance is a net loss. The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.

Add the intake

oral: 100 + 150 = 250 mL
IV infusion: 50·12 = 600 mL
IV antibiotic: 1·100 = 100 mL
I = 950 mL

Answer

I = 950 mL
6.IV fluids & fluid balance

Answer: V = 600 mL

Infusion time: time (h) = volume to infuse (mL)/rate (mL/h); use the volume still left in the bag, not the bag size. Volume infused = rate × time. Convert decimal hours to hours and minutes with the fraction × 60 (0.5 h = 30 min, not 50 min). The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.

Elapsed time

11:15 → 19:15 = 8 h

Volume infused

50·8 = 400 mL

Volume left

V = 1000 − 400 = 600 mL

Answer

V = 600 mL

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