Overview
Introduction
One misplaced decimal, one pound to kilogram error, or one concentrated product can turn a reasonable looking paediatric order into an overdose.
One misplaced decimal, one pound-to-kilogram error, or one concentrated product can turn a reasonable-looking paediatric order into an overdose. Verification is not a single calculation; it is a chain in which the child's current weight, the prescribed dose, the product concentration, the drug's labelled limits, and the child's organ function must agree. An RPN administers medications within competence, the prescriber's order, and applicable policy; the RPN does not silently rewrite an unclear prescription. Before administration, confirm the weight in kilograms, calculate the dose according to the directive, compare it with the Health Canada product monograph or provincial formulary, complete any required independent double-check, and plan monitoring for the medication's expected effects and adverse reactions.