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1Formulas and methods
Pediatric nursing
Method
Note the child’s age first: it sets the normal vital signs, the milestones and the right pain scale.
Assess airway, breathing and circulation, remembering that children compensate and then deteriorate fast.
Match the action to the development stage and involve the family.
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?
ADehydration, infection, cold and low oxygen
BDrinking plenty of water during hot weather
CSleeping for long periods in a warm room
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?
ASurfactant given into the trachea
BIV antibiotics for 7 days
COral glucose gel rubbed into the gums
DPhototherapy
3.Pediatric & critical-care dosingMedium
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
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
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
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.