A nurse is explaining to a young mother why she cannot give her 2-year-old child an adult dose of Tylenol. Which of the following statements would indicate that the mother needs further education?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A child's dose is never based on an adult's dose. However, on rare occasions a child's dose might be higher than normal if a critical concentration cannot be reached with a smaller dose and a higher dose would not be harmful. Benefits from the increased dosage would have to outweigh the risk for adverse or toxic effects. A child's organs may not be mature enough to handle drugs, causing drug metabolism to be altered. A child's dosages are determined by the age, weight, or body surface.