The nurse is administering Phenobarbital 300 mg IV to the child weighing 18 kg who is in status epilepticus. Which actions should the nurse take to safely administer the medication? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: B,E,F
Rationale: A: This dose of phenobarbital should be administered as an IV-push medication over 10 minutes; administering it over 20 minutes will delay the medication's effects to treat status epilepticus. B: Whenever IV medications are being administered by any route, the site should be evaluated for irritation and extravasation. An extravasation of phenobarbital (Luminal) may cause necrotic tissue changes that necessitate skin grafting. C: Phenobarbital, if diluted, should be mixed with sterile water for injection and not D5W. D: Phenobarbital should be prepared for direct IV administration and not as an IV piggyback because this would delay the child's receiving the medication to terminate the seizure. E: When administering IV medications, identification of medications or solutions that would be incompatible with that medication must occur so that the tubing can be flushed to ensure that crystallization does not occur in the IV tubing. F: Phenobarbital should be administered no faster than 1 mg/kg/min, with a maximum of 30 mg over 1 minute in infants and children.
Nokea