The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old child. The child is taking a drug that has a known therapeutic range in adults, and the nurse checks that the ordered dose is correct and notes that the child's serum drug level is within normal limits. The child complains of a headache, which is a common sign of toxicity for this drug. Which action will the nurse take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should hold the next dose of the drug and contact the healthcare provider. Although the child's serum drug level is within normal limits, the headache may be a sign of toxicity in the child. The nurse should not administer the medication or attribute the headache to nondrug causes without further assessment and guidance from the healthcare provider. Requesting an order for an analgesic is not appropriate until the cause of the headache is determined.

The Nurse Is Caring for a 5-Year-Old Child