Editing Pediatric Nursing (section)

=== Administration safety practices ===

* Use an '''oral syringe''' calibrated in milliliters. Household teaspoons are inaccurate and must never be used. Direct liquid toward the side of the mouth, slowly, to prevent aspiration.
* Use a leading zero (0.5 mg) and never a trailing zero (5.0 mg), which invites tenfold overdose.
* Perform an '''independent double check by two nurses''' for high-alert medications including insulin, opioids, heparin, chemotherapy, and any intravenous infusion in a neonate.
* Intramuscular site selection: the '''vastus lateralis''' is preferred for infants and young toddlers. The '''deltoid''' can be used in older children with adequate muscle mass. The dorsogluteal site is not used in children because of sciatic nerve risk.
* Never mix medication into a full bottle of formula or an essential food, because refusal or incomplete intake produces an unknown dose and can create food aversion.
* Do not describe medicine as candy.
* Volume-control infusion sets or syringe pumps are used for intravenous medications so that a child cannot receive an inadvertent fluid overload.