Question

A 4-year-old child is postoperative day 1 following surgery for trauma suffered in a motor vehicle accident. The boy is in pain, and the nurse is preparing to administer a dose of hydromorphone syrup as prescribed. To administer this drug, the nurse should use a(n):

Answer 1

A nurse should use an oral syringe or a dosage cup to administer hydromorphone syrup to a child, ensuring accurate dosing due to the risks associated with opioid medications like hydromorphone, oxycodone, codeine, and hydrocodone.

Step-by-step explanation:

To administer hydromorphone syrup to a 4-year-old child postoperative day 1 following surgery for trauma suffered in a motor vehicle accident, the nurse should use a oral syringe or a dosage cup specifically designed for measuring and delivering medication. Accurate dosing is crucial for opioids like hydromorphone given its potency and the risks of overdose, especially in pediatric patients. Hydromorphone is an analgesic that can relieve pain without loss of consciousness at therapeutic doses; however, it can cause drowsiness and even loss of consciousness at higher doses. Therefore, it is imperative that the nurse follows precise dosing instructions, as medications like oxycodone, codeine, and hydrocodone have a narrow therapeutic window and have to be administered with caution, as stated in LibreTexts and similar pharmacological resources.