Safe and Effective Nursing Care > Understanding Medication > Medication Dosing

Question 1

Medicational dosing

Answer 1

• medication should have weight-based dosing to provide an appropriate dose for pediatric patients
• A child has a faster metabolic rate than an adult.
• Weight-based dosing ensures that the child will receive adequate medication to produce therapeutic results
• Typically children older than 14 years and more than 50kg should receive a standard adult dose
• this is just a guide to ensure that the obese child does not recieve a medication dose greater than the recommended adult dose.

–basing medication dosage on weight gives an accurate and safe dose for each patient

– medication dosing should not be based on age because patient size may vary