Final answer:
The nurse should verify if the prescribed dose of morphine sulfate of 4 mg IV is appropriate for the 1-year-old child before administration, as pediatric dosing is typically calculated based on the child's weight to prevent underdosing or overdosing and minimize the risk of side effects. C) Verify that the dose is appropriate for this child. Correct Answer (Blank) .
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct action for the nurse to take after the health care provider has ordered 4 mg of morphine sulfate IV for a 1-year-old child after heart surgery is C: Verify that the dose is appropriate for this child. Pediatric dosing is usually based upon the child's mass and may be very different from adult dosing. It is crucial for the safety of the child that the nurse ensures the dose is within the safe range for the child's weight, which in this case is 10 kg (22 pounds).
After verifying the appropriateness of the dosage, the nurse would confirm the order with the prescribing physician or consult with a pharmacist if the dose seems too high or too low. Dosing for children requires careful consideration due to their varying mass and the different pharmacokinetics involved compared to adults. This includes not only the amount of drug but also the frequency of administration. Incorrect dosing in children has the potential for serious or even life-threatening side effects, making this verification step essential.
Administering a standard adult dose, splitting the dose, or proceeding without verification could result in underdosing, overdosing, or delayed treatment for the child, and none of these actions would be in adherence with safe pediatric nursing practices.