Pediatric Nursing – LPN Flashcards

Rapid-review flashcards at NCLEX-PN depth for pediatric nursing, emphasizing routine assessment and measurement, growth and development, basic safe care, caregiver teaching, and what must be reported to the registered nurse. Cover the answer, recall it, then check.

Measurement and vital signs

How long should the LPN count respirations in an infant, and when?

For a full 60 seconds, because infant breathing is irregular. Count before undressing or otherwise disturbing the infant, since crying raises the rate.

Which pulse is taken in a child under 2 years, and for how long?

The apical pulse, counted for one full minute with a stethoscope at the point of maximal impulse.

How is head circumference measured, and until what age is it routinely tracked?

With a paper tape at the widest point, just above the eyebrows and over the occipital prominence. It is measured routinely through 36 months.

What happens if the blood pressure cuff is too small?

It produces a falsely high reading. The cuff bladder width should cover about 40 percent of the arm circumference and the bladder should encircle 80 to 100 percent of the arm.

Give approximate normal heart rate and respiratory rate ranges for an infant and for a school-age child.

Infant, heart rate about 100 to 180 beats per minute and respiratory rate about 30 to 53 breaths per minute. School-age child, heart rate about 75 to 118 beats per minute and respiratory rate about 18 to 25 breaths per minute.

What temperature in an infant younger than 28 days must be reported immediately?

A rectal temperature of 38.0 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher. Young infants can be seriously infected with no other signs, so this is reported to the RN right away.

How does the LPN measure urine output in a diapered infant?

By weighing the diaper. One gram of weight above the dry diaper weight equals 1 mL of urine.

Growth and development

When does birth weight double and triple?

It doubles by about 4 to 6 months and triples by about 12 months.

When do the fontanels close?

Posterior fontanel at 2 to 3 months; anterior fontanel at 12 to 18 months.

List the milestones expected at 6 months.

Sits with support progressing to tripod sitting, rolls in both directions, transfers objects hand to hand, babbles, begins stranger anxiety, and birth weight has doubled.

List the milestones expected at 12 months.

Pulls to stand and cruises, may take first steps, uses a neat pincer grasp, says 1 to 3 words besides "mama" and "dada," drinks from a cup, and birth weight has tripled.

By what age should a child walk independently, and what if that has not happened?

By about 15 months. A child who is not walking by 18 months should be reported to the RN for developmental evaluation.

What language is expected at 2 years and at 3 years?

At 2 years, two-word phrases and speech roughly 50 percent intelligible to strangers. At 3 years, three-word sentences and speech roughly 75 percent intelligible.

Which drawing and motor skills belong to ages 3, 4, and 5?

Age 3, rides a tricycle and copies a circle. Age 4, hops on one foot and copies a cross and a square. Age 5, skips, copies a triangle, and ties shoelaces.

Name the type of play that matches each age group.

Infant, solitary. Toddler, parallel. Preschooler, associative. School-age child, cooperative.

Is a 2-year-old who plays beside other children without joining them a concern?

No. That is parallel play and is normal and expected for a toddler.

Basic care and safety

What are the safe infant sleep rules the LPN reinforces?

Back to sleep for every sleep, a firm mattress with a fitted sheet only, no pillows, bumpers, loose blankets, or soft toys, and room-sharing without bed-sharing.

What are the core car seat teaching points?

Rear-facing in the back seat until at least age 2 and ideally until the seat's height or weight limit is reached, then forward-facing with a harness, then a belt-positioning booster. All children under 13 ride in the back seat, and a rear-facing seat is never placed in front of an active air bag.

Name common choking foods to avoid in children under about 4 years, and which foods are delayed past 12 months.

Choking hazards: whole grapes, round hot dog slices, nuts, popcorn, hard candy, raw carrot pieces, and large globs of peanut butter. Round foods are cut lengthwise into small pieces. Honey is not given before 12 months because of infant botulism risk, and whole cow's milk is introduced after 12 months.

What are the key water and burn safety teaching points?

Drowning is a leading cause of death in children 1 to 4 years, so teach touch supervision around water, four-sided isolation pool fencing with self-latching gates, and emptying buckets and tubs immediately. Set the water heater no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius), turn pot handles inward, keep hot liquids and cords out of reach, and never microwave formula or breast milk.

What number should the LPN give caregivers for poisoning, and what should they not do?

In the United States, Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. Do not induce vomiting and do not give syrup of ipecac. Keep products in original containers, locked and out of sight.

Which intramuscular site is used for an infant, and which site is never used in children?

The vastus lateralis is used for infants and young toddlers. The dorsogluteal site is never used in children because of sciatic nerve risk. The deltoid is reserved for older children with adequate muscle mass.

How does the LPN safely give a liquid oral medication to a toddler?

Use an oral syringe calibrated in milliliters, never a household spoon. Direct the liquid slowly toward the side of the mouth. Do not mix medication into a full bottle of formula or an essential food, and never call medicine candy. Convert weight by dividing pounds by 2.2, and record the weight in kilograms only to prevent dangerous pound-kilogram mix-ups.

Communication, family care, and reporting

What is family-centered care in practical terms?

Treating the caregiver as a partner rather than a visitor: encouraging presence at the bedside and during procedures, incorporating home routines and comfort objects, sharing information openly, and negotiating which cares the caregiver wishes to provide.

How should the LPN explain a procedure to a preschooler?

Shortly before the event, using simple concrete words, allowing play with the equipment, correcting the belief that the procedure is a punishment, and applying a bandage afterward.

How should the LPN support a hospitalized school-age child?

Encourage participation in care, keep up with schoolwork, allow contact with friends, explain what is happening in terms of body function, and protect privacy. This supports industry versus inferiority.

Which findings in a child with gastroenteritis must be reported promptly to the RN?

No wet diaper in 6 to 8 hours, sunken fontanel, crying without tears, dry mucous membranes, poor skin turgor, acute weight loss, lethargy, tachycardia, and capillary refill longer than 2 to 3 seconds.

What should the LPN teach about fever management in a child?

Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed by weight, offer fluids, and dress the child lightly. Never give aspirin during a viral illness because of Reye syndrome. Do not use alcohol baths or bundle the child in blankets, and report fever that persists or that occurs in a very young infant.

What are warning signs of child maltreatment, and what is the LPN's duty?

Injuries inconsistent with the reported mechanism or the child's developmental ability, injuries in various stages of healing, patterned or immersion burns, and delay in seeking care. Nurses are mandated reporters. Document objectively using the caregiver's exact words in quotation marks, report to the RN immediately, and do not confront the caregiver or question the child in front of them.

What is the LPN's role when an assessment finding is abnormal?

Collect and record the data accurately, report it to the registered nurse promptly, and continue to monitor. The RN analyzes the finding and revises the plan of care; the LPN reinforces teaching and carries out the established plan.

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