CPN CPE CIS key terms

A bedside scoring tool that combines respiratory, cardiovascular, and behavioral observations to flag a hospitalized child whose condition is deteriorating, prompting escalation of care before an emergency event occurs.

The structured process of notifying a higher-level clinician or rapid response team when a child's assessment meets defined trigger criteria, regardless of the bedside nurse's seniority or the prescriber's preference.

A designated group of critical care clinicians available at all hours to bring advanced assessment and stabilization to a deteriorating patient anywhere in the hospital, including general pediatric units.

Calculating a pediatric medication dose from the child's measured weight in kilograms, usually expressed as mg/kg, rather than using a fixed adult dose, because organ maturity and body composition change drug handling.

The published lower and upper limits of a drug dose for a given weight or body surface area; a calculated dose outside this range signals a possible error and requires verification before administration.

A drug that carries a heightened risk of significant harm when used in error, such as insulin, opioids, heparin, and concentrated electrolytes, requiring independent double-checks and standardized storage.

Two qualified clinicians separately verify the drug, concentration, dose calculation, and pump settings without sharing their findings first, so a shared assumption cannot hide a calculation error.

An infusion device with a drug library and dose-error reduction software that alerts the user when programmed parameters fall outside pre-set limits for the selected medication and patient population.

A calculation method that sets up conversions as a chain of fractions with units canceling across the equation, reducing setup mistakes when converting doses, weights, and infusion rates.

Leakage of a vesicant or irritant medication from a vessel into surrounding tissue, causing pain, blistering, and possible necrosis; treatment depends on the drug and includes stopping the infusion and specific antidotes.

A medication capable of causing tissue blistering and necrosis if it escapes the vein, such as certain chemotherapy agents, concentrated potassium, and some antibiotics; requires verified blood return before and during infusion.

A catheter whose tip terminates in the superior vena cava or right atrium, used for vesicant drugs, hyperosmolar solutions, and long-term therapy; examples include tunneled catheters, ports, and PICC lines.

A laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection in a patient with a central line that is not related to another infection source, prevented through hand hygiene, hub disinfection, and daily review of line necessity.

A small set of evidence-based practices performed together for every eligible patient, such as the central line bundle, where partial compliance yields less benefit than completing all elements.

A structured retrospective review of a serious safety event that maps contributing system factors rather than individual blame, producing recommendations to prevent recurrence.

A safety framework that distinguishes human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless conduct, responding with support, coaching, or discipline accordingly so staff report errors without fear.

An environment where any team member, including students and parents, can raise a safety concern about a plan of care and expect it to be heard and acted upon.

A ranking of a child's measurement against a reference population of the same age and sex, showing the percentage of peers who fall at or below that value.

Inadequate weight gain or growth in a young child, often identified by weight-for-length or weight-for-age falling across major percentile lines over time, requiring evaluation of intake and underlying disease.

A screening measure for weight status in children aged 2 years and older, plotted as a percentile because normal body composition changes with growth; the 95th percentile or above indicates obesity.

A functional skill most children achieve within an expected age window, such as sitting unsupported or using two-word phrases, used to screen for delay and prompt early referral.

Findings that warrant prompt referral rather than watchful waiting, such as loss of previously acquired skills, no babbling by nine months, or persistent asymmetry of movement or tone.

Federally supported services for children under three with developmental delay or established risk, providing therapy and family coaching in natural settings to improve outcomes before school age.

Proactive, age-specific counseling given at health visits about what to expect next and how to prevent injury or illness, such as safe sleep advice for newborns or helmet use for toddlers.

A communication technique in which the learner explains the plan or skill in their own words, allowing the nurse to confirm understanding and correct gaps rather than assuming teaching succeeded.

A person's ability to obtain, process, and act on health information; limited literacy affects medication accuracy and safety, so materials should use plain language and pictures.

An approach that treats the family as a partner in assessment, decision-making, and care delivery, respecting their values, culture, and expertise about the child.

An offered option for parents to remain near the child during resuscitation, supported by a dedicated staff member who explains events, when it does not impede the clinical team.

A collaborative conversation where clinicians present options and evidence and the family shares goals and preferences, leading to a jointly chosen plan of care.

A child's affirmative agreement to participate in care or research, sought in developmentally appropriate language alongside parental permission, without replacing formal informed consent.

Purposeful use of open questions, reflection, and silence to help a child or parent express concerns, avoiding false reassurance and closed questions that shut down disclosure.

A rapid first-impression tool using appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin to judge how sick a child is before touching or measuring anything.

Distress shows increased effort such as retractions and grunting with preserved mental status; failure adds diminished effort, altered consciousness, and inadequate oxygenation or ventilation requiring immediate support.

Support such as CPAP or bilevel ventilation delivered through a mask or nasal interface to keep small airways open and reduce work of breathing without intubation.

Delivery of heated, humidified oxygen at flows above conventional nasal cannula, providing modest positive pressure and improving comfort in infants with bronchiolitis or other respiratory illness.

Grading of fluid deficit as mild, moderate, or severe using weight change, mucous membranes, tears, urine output, skin turgor, and mental status to guide oral or intravenous rehydration.

The volume of fluid needed per day to replace normal losses, commonly estimated by the Holliday-Segar method of 100, 50, and 20 mL/kg for successive weight bands.

Frequent small volumes of an electrolyte-balanced solution given by mouth or feeding tube to correct mild to moderate dehydration, preferred over intravenous therapy when tolerated.

A structured team conversation after a resuscitation or critical event that reviews what happened, supports emotional recovery, and identifies system improvements.