Pediatric ATI Practice Exam

How should the nurse identify a toddler before administering furosemide?

1. Ask the child to state her name.

2. Ask the pharmacy for the child's room number.

3. Ask the child to state her birthday.

4. Ask the guardian to verify the child's name.

The correct answer is: Ask the guardian to verify the child's name.

To ensure patient safety and correct medication administration, it is essential to accurately identify the patient. In the context of a toddler, who may not have the cognitive ability or verbal skills to reliably state their own name or birthday, relying on a guardian for verification is more appropriate. Asking the guardian to verify the child's name provides an additional layer of safety. As guardians are likely to have immediate knowledge of the child's identification details, this method minimizes the risk of misidentification that could lead to administering medication to the wrong patient. In contrast, asking the child to state her name or birthday may not be effective due to the child's developmental stage, as toddlers often cannot articulate this information reliably. Similarly, requesting the pharmacy to provide the child's room number does not directly confirm the child's identity and could lead to errors if the information is misinterpreted or not accurately conveyed.