CPedN(C) - Pediatric Nursing flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Birth weight doubling

Expected infant weight doubles birth weight by about 5 months and triples it by about 12 months, so a 3.5 kg newborn is expected to reach roughly 7 kg at 5 months.

Moro reflex resolution

The Moro (startle) reflex is normally present at birth and disappears by about 3 to 4 months; persistence beyond that age warrants developmental evaluation.

Pincer grasp timing

A fine pincer grasp using thumb and index finger typically develops around 9 to 10 months, allowing infants to pick up small objects and raising choking risk.

Growth chart red flag

Crossing two or more major percentile lines downward on a growth chart suggests failure to thrive and prompts evaluation of intake, feeding skills, and organic causes.

Family-centered care core

Family-centered care rests on dignity and respect, information sharing, participation, and collaboration, treating the family as the constant in the child's life.

Teach-back method

Teach-back asks the family to explain instructions in their own words, confirming understanding better than asking whether they have questions.

Pediatric assent

Assent is the child's agreement to care, sought from children developmentally able to understand, while parents or guardians provide legal informed consent.

Atraumatic care principles

Atraumatic care minimizes separation from family, promotes a sense of control, and prevents bodily injury and pain during procedures and hospitalization.

Hypotension in children

Hypotension is a late and ominous sign of pediatric shock; decompensation appears earlier as tachycardia, delayed capillary refill, and altered mental status.

Capillary refill

Capillary refill is assessed by pressing and releasing the skin; a refill longer than 2 seconds suggests poor perfusion, though central refill is more reliable in shock.

FLACC pain scale

The FLACC scale rates Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability from 0 to 10 for preverbal or nonverbal children who cannot self-report pain.

Pediatric urine output

Normal urine output is about 1 to 2 mL/kg/hour in infants and 0.5 to 1 mL/kg/hour in children; lower output suggests hypovolemia or renal impairment.

Safe dose verification

Before giving a pediatric medication, the nurse verifies the ordered mg/kg against a calculated dose and a published safe range, never exceeding the adult maximum.

4-2-1 maintenance rule

Hourly maintenance IV fluid equals 4 mL/kg for the first 10 kg, 2 mL/kg for the next 10 kg, and 1 mL/kg for each additional kilogram.

Infant IM injection site

The vastus lateralis is the preferred intramuscular site in infants and toddlers because it is well developed, safely away from nerves, and can hold adequate volume.

High-alert pediatric drugs

Insulin, opioids, heparin, and concentrated electrolytes are high-alert medications requiring independent double-checks and weight-based verification before administration.

Dehydration severity

Mild dehydration is under 5 percent weight loss, moderate is 5 to 10 percent, and severe exceeds 10 percent; severe dehydration with shock needs an isotonic 20 mL/kg bolus.

Kawasaki disease criteria

Kawasaki disease is fever for at least 5 days plus 4 of conjunctivitis, oral changes, rash, extremity changes, and cervical lymphadenopathy; IVIG prevents coronary aneurysms.

Nephrotic syndrome triad

Nephrotic syndrome presents with proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema; monitoring includes daily weight, urine protein, and infection surveillance from immunoglobulin loss.

Sickle cell acute chest

Acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease presents with fever, chest pain, cough, and falling oxygen saturation and is a leading cause of death requiring urgent treatment.

Pediatric airway narrowest point

In young children the narrowest airway point is the cricoid ring, and the large head, large tongue, and anterior airway make intubation and positioning more difficult.

Croup versus epiglottitis

Croup causes a barking cough and inspiratory stridor; epiglottitis causes drooling, muffled voice, and tripod posture, and the throat must not be inspected.

Tet spell management

For a hypercyanotic tet spell, calm the child, place in knee-chest position, give supplemental oxygen, and notify the provider; avoid dehydration and prolonged crying.

Infant heart failure signs

Infants with heart failure show feeding difficulty, poor weight gain, tachypnea, and diaphoresis with feeds; digoxin levels and intake are monitored closely.

Holliday-Segar method

Daily maintenance fluid is 100 mL/kg for the first 10 kg, 50 mL/kg for the next 10 kg, and 20 mL/kg for each remaining kilogram.

Potassium administration safety

Potassium is never given by IV push; it is diluted and infused with an infusion pump while cardiac rhythm and serum potassium are monitored.

Cow's milk introduction

Whole cow's milk is avoided before 12 months because it has low iron and can cause gastrointestinal blood loss; iron-rich foods begin around 6 months.

Infant CPR ratio

For infant CPR with a single rescuer, use 30 compressions to 2 breaths; with two rescuers use 15 compressions to 2 breaths at 100 to 120 per minute.

Infant choking response

For a choking infant who cannot cry or breathe, deliver 5 back blows then 5 chest thrusts; abdominal thrusts are not used in infants.

Burn first aid

Cool a burn with running water for about 20 minutes, remove clothing and jewelry, and cover with a clean dry dressing; never apply ice or home remedies.

Erikson autonomy stage

Erikson's autonomy versus shame and doubt stage occurs from about 1 to 3 years, when toddlers seek independence and benefit from limited, safe choices.

Adolescent suicide screening

Direct, nonjudgmental questions about suicidal thoughts are safe and necessary; asking about suicide does not increase risk and identifies youth needing immediate protection.