Question

Define: Toxic dose

Define Peak and trough.

List four nursing implications for Pediatric patients

Answer 1

TOXIC DOSE - It is the minimum dose which can cause adverse effect in a person while taking a drug / medicine. A calculated dose of a chemical/ or a drug or a medicine that is introduced by any route other than inhalation (resopiratory)  that would cause some or a specific toxic effect in 50% , of a defined experimental population .

PEAK -  The peak level is the highest concentration of a drug in a patient's bloodstream. this is the test in which the specimen should be collected after the drug administration.

TROUGH -  The trough level, it is the lowest concentration of a drug, in the patient's bloodstream, therefore, this specimenthe specimen should be collected just prior to administration of the drug

nursing implications for Pediatric patients

* The prescribed dose of the medicine for the child has to be confirmed and checked before administering the medicine.

* ensure that the 3 check of medicine along with the physicians order has to be done by the health provider just before the administration.

* Assess the pediatric patients and ensure that the medication drug calculation of dose is propotional with the body weight of the child . ( this will help from preventing over dose)

* Monitor the trough level of the medicine just before the administration to ensure that the theraputic level of drug is only inside the serum of the child.

* Monitor the vital signs and its variation. Assess the baby for any evidence of side effects is exhibited or not.

* Monitor the peak level of the drug in the serum of the child. (this will help in the identification or the early detectiion of over dose)