Suggested Answers to Assignments, Chapter 31, Medication Administration and

Intravenous Therapy

Written Assignment Learning Objective(s)

1. Students’ answers should include the following: 3, 4, 5
• To use the body weight method of pediatric dosage

calculation, always calculate the child's weight in

kilograms if the medication is ordered as a dose per

kilogram. Then calculate the safe low and high doses by

using the child's body weight. Always have another

person check computations of drug dosage before

administering medications to children.

• The body surface area (BSA) method can also be used to

calculate pediatric dosages. A West nomogram is used

to determine the child's BSA based on his or her height

and weight. Then use the BSA and usual adult dosage of

the medication to calculate the child's dose.

• Routes of pediatric medication administration are oral,

ophthalmic, otic, nasal, rectal, IM, subcutaneous,

intradermal, and IV. Oral is the most common route.

Group Assignment Learning Objective(s)

1. Students’ answers should include the following: 8, 9
• Maintaining fluid balance in the body tissues is essential
 to health. Severe imbalance can occur rapidly in children

because they dehydrate much faster than do adults.

Serious dehydration can result from diarrhea, vomiting, or

loss of fluids in extensive burns. Electrolytes help

maintain the acid–base balance in the body, so the

electrolyte balance in the body is also essential.

• Intracellular fluid is contained within the body cells and

makes up 40% of body weight in children and adults.

Extracellular fluid is situated outside the cells and is either

interstitial fluid (situated within the spaces or gaps of body

tissue) or intravascular fluid (situated within the blood

vessels or blood plasma).

Clinical Assignments Learning Objective(s)

1. Students’ answers should include the following: 1

 The six “rights” are the right medication, client, dose,

route, time, and documentation
2. Students’ answers should include the following: 2, 6, 7
 Administering medications to children is complex

because of their immature body systems and varying

sizes. Age-related behaviors and developmental

considerations should be kept in mind, and age-

appropriate nursing actions should be used when

administering medications to children.

 Routes of pediatric medication administration are

 oral, ophthalmic, otic, nasal, rectal, IM, subcutaneous,

intradermal, and IV. Oral is the most common route.

 The muscle preferred for IM injections in the infant

is the vastus lateralis. To use the vastus lateralis

muscle for an IM injection, locate the trochanter (hip

joint) and knee as landmarks. Divide the area between

landmarks into thirds. Using the middle section of the

three sections, follow correct procedure for drawing up

the medication and inject the needle into the lateral

aspect of the leg at a 90-degree angle.

Web Assignment Learning Objective(s)

1. Students’ answers should include the following: 10, 11, 12
• IV therapy might be administered to children to provide

water, electrolytes, blood products, medications, or

nutrients (TPN) the child needs.

• IV fluid administration requires careful observation of the

child's appearance, vital signs, intake and output, and the

fluid's flow rate.

• IV flow rate is regulated by the use of an infusion control

device in order to closely monitor the rate of infusion. A

control chamber or Buretrol is used to deliver a controlled

volume of fluid. IV infusion sites must be monitored to

avoid infiltration and tissue damage.