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 activity best supports a 9-year-old during a long hospital stay?

  1. APlaying with baby toys in the toddler playroom with younger children
  2. BSchoolwork and contact with classmates, plus games or hobbies
  3. CWatching television alone for most of the day
  4. DStaying in bed with no visitors to rest
2.Pediatric nursingHard

In England, a 15-year-old asks a nurse for contraception and does not want her parents told. Which principle applies?

  1. AThe nurse must inform her parents and her school straight away
  2. BContraception may only be given once she reaches the age of 18
  3. CShe may consent herself if judged competent (Gillick and Fraser)
  4. DShe can never receive contraception without written consent from a parent
3.Pediatric & critical-care dosingMedium
heparin 1 000 units/mL80 units/kg · 70 kg → V = ? mL

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A practice protocol calls for a heparin bolus of 80 units/kg for a patient who weighs 70 kg. The vial contains 1 000 units/mL. What volume V do you draw up? Round to one decimal place.

80 units/kg70 kg1 000 units/mL
V = mL
4.Pediatric & critical-care dosingHard
250 mg250 mLdobutamine? mL/h96 kg5 mcg/kg/min

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A bag contains dobutamine 250 mg in 250 mL. The order is 5 mcg/kg/min for a patient who weighs 96 kg. At what rate R do you set the pump, in mL/h? Round to one decimal place.

250 mg/250 mL5 mcg/kg/min96 kg
R = mL/h
5.IV fluids & fluid balanceMedium
IntakeOutput12-hour shiftjelly120 mLmilk200 mLIV infusion80 mL/h × 12 hIV antibiotic1 × 100 mLurine500 mLurine275 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 fluid balance B = intake − output in mL (a negative answer means a net loss).

jelly: 120 mLmilk: 200 mLIV infusion: 80 mL/h × 12 hIV antibiotic: 1 × 100 mLurine: 500 mLurine: 275 mL
B = mL
6.IV fluids & fluid balanceHard
500 mL120 mL/hstart 09:4512:15: ? mL

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A 500 mL bag was started at 09:45 and runs by pump at 120 mL/h. How many mL V are left in the bag at 12:15?

500 mL120 mL/h09:45 → 12:15
V = mL

3Solutions

1.Pediatric nursing

Answer: B · Schoolwork and contact with classmates, plus games or hobbies

Why this is the answer

School-age children need to feel competent and connected. Hospital school, contact with friends and age-appropriate games, crafts and collections support Erikson's task of industry and reduce feelings of isolation.

Answer

B · Schoolwork and contact with classmates, plus games or hobbies
2.Pediatric nursing

Answer: C · She may consent herself if judged competent (Gillick and Fraser)

Why this is the answer

Under the Gillick case and Fraser guidelines, a young person under 16 who understands the treatment and its implications can consent to contraception. Staff encourage involving parents and assess for any safeguarding concerns.

Answer

C · She may consent herself if judged competent (Gillick and Fraser)
3.Pediatric & critical-care dosing

Answer: V = 5.6 mL

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 needed

80·70 = 5 600 units

Volume

V = 5600/1000 = 5.6 mL

Answer

V = 5.6 mL
4.Pediatric & critical-care dosing

Answer: R = 28.8 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

5·96 = 480 mcg/min
480·60 = 28800 mcg/h

Pump rate

R = 28800/1000 = 28.8 mL/h

Answer

R = 28.8 mL/h
5.IV fluids & fluid balance

Answer: B = 605 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.

Total intake

oral: 120 + 200 = 320 mL
IV infusion: 80·12 = 960 mL
IV antibiotic: 1·100 = 100 mL
total intake = 1380 mL

Total output

500 + 275 = 775 mL

Balance

B = 1380 − 775 = 605 mL

Answer

B = 605 mL

Positive: more fluid went in than came out.

6.IV fluids & fluid balance

Answer: V = 200 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

09:45 → 12:15 = 2.5 h

Volume infused

120·2.5 = 300 mL

Volume left

V = 500 − 300 = 200 mL

Answer

V = 200 mL

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