Question 1

The gastric pH of children younger than 3 years is more alkaline than that of adults. Penicillin can be destroyed by gastric acidity. The penicillin dose for a child younger than 3 years compared to that for an adult should be:

Accepted Answer

Because the child's gastric pH is more alkaline than the adult's, less penicillin will be destroyed. Therefore, the dose should be decreased.

Question 2

In terms of calculation of drug dosages, which information will be most important for the nurse to collect regarding a pediatric client upon his or her first clinic visit?

Accepted Answer

Age, height, and weight are used to calculate drug dosages for the pediatric client.

Question 3

The nurse understands that the drug distribution in an infant is affected by which factor?

Accepted Answer

Infants have less albumin than older adults and fewer protein receptor sites available for binding with medication. Infants have higher levels of extracellular fluids, increasing the tendency for dehydration and changes in distribution of water-soluble medications.

Question 4

An infant client is ordered to receive a topical silver nitrate ointment to prevent infection after sustaining burns. The nurse be especially vigilant for signs of silver toxicity because:

Accepted Answer

The thinner epidermis allows for greater absorption of topical medications, increasing the risk for toxicity.

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a pediatric client who has a long-term, chronic illness. The nurse notes that the client needed an increase in his medication dosage once he reached age 14 years. The nurse is aware that this is most likely due to:

Accepted Answer

The adolescent client may require an increase in his medication dosage because of hormonal changes and growth spurts that he is experiencing.

Question 6

The nurse develops a medication teaching plan for an adolescent client. Which principle will be highest priority to include when teaching the adolescent client?

Accepted Answer

The nurse plays a key role in establishing a productive working relationship with an adolescent. Appropriate levels of privacy will demonstrate trust and the increased need for independence in the adolescent and may provide an opportunity for the adolescent to verbalize questions/concerns. Emotional development in an adolescent occurs on an individual basis. The nurse must exercise care in offering confidentiality in the event that information needs to be divulged to other healthcare providers. Adolescents may require help with decision making.

Question 7

Drug half-life for an older child can be shortened because of increased metabolic rate. How does this affect the drug dose for older children versus that for adults?

Accepted Answer

With a shorter half-life, more of the drug is eliminated quickly. This requires a higher dose of the medication.

Question 8

The _____ route is the most exact and predictable route through which to administer medications to children.

Accepted Answer

The IV route allows for the greatest titration and bioavailability of the medication. The other routes are less exact.

Question 9

The nurse prepares to administer a crushed medication to an 11-month-old child. Which food or beverage will the nurse mix with the medication to make it more palatable?

Accepted Answer

Medications can be made more palatable by adding jelly or syrup. Honey should not be given to infants younger than 1 year owing to the increased risk of botulism. Carbonated beverages are not appropriate to mix with medications for an infant and, depending on the medication, may interact with the medication. Milk should not be used; it may also interact with the medication.

Question 10

Neonates and infants have a decreased metabolism and excretion of drugs because of immaturity of which organs?

Accepted Answer

The liver and kidneys are the primary organs for metabolism and excretion and are immature in infants.

Question 11

Infants have decreased plasma protein-binding sites because of decreased plasma protein and albumin levels. With drugs that are highly protein bound, how should the drug dose for infants be different from that for adults?

Accepted Answer

With fewer protein-binding sites, there is more active drug available. This requires a reduction in the dose for infants.

Question 12

What does teaching to clients with children include?

Accepted Answer

Child-proof medications may decrease the risk for inadvertent ingestion.

Quiz 11: Pediatric Pharmacology