Pediatric IV Administration Tips

• It is essential that the nurse check every IV order to ensure that a safe amount of fluid has been ordered. See preceding Pediatric Maintenance Fluid Calculation.
• The microdrop or minidrop equipment is usually used when administering IV fluids to children. When this equipment is used, the microdrops per minute rate is the same as the milliliters per hour rate.
  Example: An IV that is to infuse at 20 mL/h will run at 20 gtt/min. If it is desirable to give 20 mL in 30 minutes, then the IV rate would be 40 gtt/min. Similarly, to give 20 mL in 15 minutes, the rate would be 80 gtt/min. (The principle is the same as driving an automobile at 20 mph to travel 20 miles in 1 hour, or at 40 mph to travel 20 miles in 30 minutes.)
• A volume control chamber such as the Buretrol should be hung below the IV bag.
• To prevent accidental fluid overload, never add over 2 hours’ worth of fluid to the Buretrol at any time.
• If possible, place the IV on a pump to decrease the possibility of accidental fluid overload. Monitor closely for infiltration when pump is used.
• Isotonic solution for the child younger than age 5 is usually D5.2NS, which differs from adult isotonic solution because of the greater amount of extracellular fluid in a child.
• Isotonic solution for the child 5 years and older is usually D5.45NS.
• Potassium is not added to a child’s IV until after the child has voided.