MEDizzy - A parent calls the outpatient clinic requesting information

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Nursing Care of Toddlers

A parent calls the outpatient clinic requesting information about the appropriate dose of acetaminophen for a 16-month-old child who has signs of an upper respiratory tract infection and fever. The directions on the bottle of acetaminophen elixir are 120 mg every 4 hours when needed. At the toddler’s 15-month visit, the healthcare provider prescribed 150 mg. What is the nurse’s best response to the parent?

ExplanationD. A specific dose per kilogram of body weight prevents overdose; there is a large range in weight for specific ages, and a uniform dose based on age could be unsafe or ineffective. A. This may result in an inadequate dose. B. Medication is important; the child has a fever. C. This is unsafe because of the wide range of weights for a specific age group.