A nurse is advised to give injection vitamin K for new born baby. The route and dose of Vitamin K is:

AIIMS Delhi NO- 2019

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO- 2019

Explanation

The standard prophylactic dose of vitamin K for a healthy term newborn is a single 1 mg dose.
The intramuscular (IM) route is the recommended standard of care because it ensures rapid and reliable absorption, creating a necessary depot for sustained protection.
This intervention is critical for preventing Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by a transient deficiency of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X).
The preferred injection site is the vastus lateralis muscle in the anterolateral thigh.

Option B: The subcutaneous (SC) route provides slower and more variable absorption compared to the IM route and is not recommended for routine prophylaxis.
Option C: The intradermal (ID) route is incorrect for this medication. It deposits the drug into the skin's dermal layer, leading to poor systemic absorption and rendering the prophylaxis ineffective. Also, 0.5 mg is the dose for preterm infants, not term newborns.
Option D: A 10 mg dose is a tenfold overdose and is highly dangerous for a newborn. The intravenous (IV) route is not used for routine prophylaxis and is associated with risks, including anaphylactoid reactions.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacology and Administration of Vitamin K in Newborns helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Administering vitamin K is a fundamental and critical nursing action to safeguard newborns from VKDB, which can cause devastating outcomes like intracranial hemorrhage.
Accurate documentation of the administration is vital to prevent accidental re-dosing, which could lead to toxicity.
What if? The newborn is preterm and weighs less than 1500g. The recommended dose would be reduced to 0.5 mg IM to account for smaller muscle mass and decreased metabolic capacity.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key components of the question: the medication (Vitamin K), the patient population (newborn), and the required information (route and dose).
Recall the standard prophylactic protocols for newborns. Vitamin K administration is a universal standard of care.
Evaluate each option based on both the dose and the route.
Eliminate options with incorrect routes. Intradermal (ID) is for skin tests, and Intravenous (IV) is for emergencies, not prophylaxis.
Compare the remaining options (IM vs. SC). Recall that the IM route provides the most reliable absorption for this medication.
Confirm the standard dose. 1 mg is the standard for term newborns, while 10 mg is a clear overdose. This confirms that 1 mg IM is the correct choice.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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