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NCLEX Question of the Day
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To prevent medication errors when administering intravenous (IV) medications to infants, which safety practice is crucial?
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Administering IV push medications rapidly.
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Correct answer Using a smart infusion pump with pediatric dosing limits.
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Calculating the dose based on the average adult weight.
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Diluting all IV medications in large volumes of fluid.
Rationale
Infants are highly vulnerable to medication errors due to weight-based dosing and immature organ function. Smart infusion pumps with programmed pediatric dosing limits (dose error reduction software - DERS) provide a critical safety check, alerting the nurse if a programmed dose or rate falls outside preset safety ranges. IV push medications should generally be given slowly to infants to prevent adverse effects. Doses must always be calculated based on the infant's specific weight and condition, never on adult averages. While some medications require dilution, diluting all meds in large volumes can lead to fluid overload in infants.
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