Question

1. Provide information for the medication: Acetaminophen ; Order is for _________________; Child’s weight is 18 kg safe

• discuss the drug class, side effects, patient and family education and nursing considerations.
  • calculate the safe dose your patient should receive______________________ what is the maximum dose? _________________ (remember this is a child)

• concentration is ____________   SO how many ml. of the acetaminophen does the nurse administer draw up into the syringe: _____________
• The dilution range for the medication: ______________ SO what is the dilution volume for the med? _______________
• What is the infusion time is? _____________________

Answer 1

# Order is for Acetaminophen.

1. Acetaminophen is another name is paracetamol which is used to treat mild to moderate pain and fever .Acetaminophen belongs to a class of drugs called analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers). It reduces the production of prostaglandins in the brain and reduces pain .

# Side effects of acetaminophen are :-

- nausea,

- stomach pain,

- loss of appetite,

- itching,

- rash,

- headache,

- dark urine,

- clay-colored stools

- Jaundice

- Allergic reactions

- dizziness

- trouble breathing

# Patient and family teaching :and nursing consideration are :-

- teach patient to take medicine as prescribed

- teach the side effects of the drug

- instruct that many over the counter drugs contain acetaminophen

- monitor patient for side effects

- therapy is considered effective if there is relieve of pain and fever.

- patient should not take more than 4gm of acetaminophen a day .

- increased risk of hepatotoxicity if used in more amounts and if taken with alcohol.

2. Weight of the child is 18kg

Safe dose of acetaminophen for this child when weight is known is 10-15 mg/kg/dose. Give PO every 4-6 hours and do not exceed more than 5 doses (2.6 g) in 24 hours.

So for this child it will be = 10×18 mg to 15×18 mg

= 180mg to 270 mg

Maximum dose is 270mg

3. The available concentration of paracetamol in 100 ml vial is 1gm . The child needs 180 mg to 270 mg .

1gm is equal to 1000 mg

1000mg of paracetamol is present in 100ml

1mg will be present in 100/ 1000

Then 180 mg will be present in 100/ 1000×180

= 18ml

For maximum dose 270 mg it will be 100/ 1000×270

= 27 ml

So, 18 ml to 27 ml will be infused .

4. It is available in dilution form of 100 ml

For small volumes place small volume pediatric doses up to 60 mL in volume in a syringe and administer over 15 minutes using a syringe pump.