Twenty flashcards covering essential pediatric nursing concepts: growth and developmental milestones, vital sign ranges by age, weight-based medication dosing, immunisation basics, fluid and electrolyte considerations, and safe nursing care for common pediatri...
Twenty flashcards covering essential pediatric nursing concepts: growth and developmental milestones, vital sign ranges by age, weight-based medication dosing, immunisation basics, fluid and electrolyte considerations, and safe nursing care for common pediatric conditions. Aligned with NCLEX-RN pediatric content.
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Approximately 100–160 beats per minute, higher than in older children and adults due to a proportionally smaller stroke volume.
Approximately 30–60 breaths per minute, decreasing steadily with age toward the adult range of 12–20.
Around 5–6 months. Birth weight typically triples by around 12 months.
Sitting with support, rolling over both ways, and beginning to babble — a key marker of gross motor and early communication development.
A bulging fontanelle may indicate increased intracranial pressure. Delayed closure (normally by 12–18 months) can suggest hydrocephalus or hypothyroidism.
Using weight-based dosing (mg/kg), always verified against the maximum safe adult dose and double-checked by a second nurse for high-alert medications.
It is associated with Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious condition causing swelling in the liver and brain.
Acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen (in children over 6 months), dosed by weight, avoiding aspirin.
Sunken fontanelle, decreased urine output, dry mucous membranes, absence of tears when crying, lethargy and delayed capillary refill.
They have a higher body-water percentage, greater surface-area-to-body-mass ratio, and immature renal concentrating ability, causing faster fluid loss.
A childhood obesity prevention message: 5 servings of fruit/vegetables, 2 hours or less of screen time, 1 hour of physical activity, 0 sugary drinks daily.
The hepatitis B vaccine, usually given within 24 hours of birth as the first of a three-dose series.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella combination vaccine, with the first dose typically given at 12–15 months.
Immunocompromised status, pregnancy, or recent receipt of blood products/immunoglobulins, since the live attenuated virus poses infection risk in these groups.
Keep the child calm and in a position of comfort (often upright on a caregiver's lap), avoid agitating procedures (throat exams, IV starts) that can worsen airway obstruction, and prepare for possible airway intervention.
A viral upper airway infection causing swelling of the larynx and trachea, classically presenting with a barking cough and inspiratory stridor.
Protect the child from injury, place them on their side, do not restrain or put anything in the mouth, time the seizure, and monitor for post-ictal recovery.
Care that minimises physical and psychological distress — using distraction, honest age-appropriate explanations, parental presence and comfort positioning during procedures.
Because parents/caregivers are considered partners in care; involving them reduces the child's anxiety and improves cooperation, outcomes and satisfaction.
A drop of two or more major percentile lines on weight or height-for-age charts, which may indicate failure to thrive or an underlying health problem.
