• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

Expert spotlight: Creative and safe ways to administer meds to peds

Nurse Leader Weekly, January 26, 2009

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Nurse Leader Weekly!

This week, Jill Duncan, RN, MS, MPH, director of the IHI Open School for Health Professions in Cambridge, MA, offers some expert advice to simplify medication administration to pediatric patients.

Q: Do you know of any creative ways my nurses can ease medication administration to pediatric patients?

A: Creative and safe methods of administering intravenous and oral medications to children are part of the art of being a pediatric nurse.

Experienced pediatric nurses—and parents—have perfected the art of oral medication administration. Crushing tablets and dissolving or disguising powdered medication in another solution is a trick that has stood the test of time. It is important, however, to be familiar with any compatibility challenges and to recognize any time-release features of the medication.

Oral solutions can often be disguised by slightly more appealing flavors. This is a great opportunity to give children some control by letting them choose the flavor from a list of options whenever possible.

Keep children safe around the equipment used for medication administration. Keep all medications safely locked and out of reach of children, and never leave medication sitting unattended. Infusion pump key pads should be locked so curious hands don't find their way to them. Remember, kids love to push buttons!

Editor's note: Do you have a question for our experts? Email your queries to editor Keri Mucci at kmucci@hcpro.com and see your name in print next week! In the meantime, head over to our Web site and view a growing collection of advice from our experts.

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Nurse Leader Weekly!

• Comment
• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive

Comments