Paediatric medication essentials – practice review

Medication safety in children requires precision, vigilance, and structured clinical reasoning. Weight-based dosing, small margins for error and complex preparation requirements make paediatric medication administration one of the highest risk areas in clinical care. 

This interactive, case-based eLearning course focuses on best practice guidelines using a clinical scenario to translate key safety principles into practical decision-making. This course reinforces safe practice aligned with the Australian Safety and Quality Commission on Health Care regulations. 

Through the case of a child presenting for surgery, you will apply approaches to mediation calculation, preparation, labelling and administration, while recognising common risks and system factors that contribute to medication errors.

The course introduces practical strategies for supporting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Communication differences, sensory sensitivities and behavioural responses can influence how care is delivered. Adapting our approach supports safe care and a positive patient experience.

Course Overview
Following the case of 8-year-old Arlo, this eLearning will explore:

• weight-based dose calculations and independent double checks
• safe preparation and labelling of paediatric medicines
• high-risk medication considerations independent double-checking and human factors in medication safety 
• recognising and managing medication errors
• escalation, documentation and incident reporting responsibilities 
• practical approaches to caring for children with ASD
• communication and environmental strategies to support safe care

Throughout the course, decision points and feedback support clinical reasoning and reinforce safe, consistent practice.

Why you should enrol 
Medication errors remain one of the most common preventable causes of harm in paediatric healthcare. Strengthening clinician confidence and consistency in medication safety is essential to improving outcomes and protecting vulnerable patients. 

This course supports clinicians to deliver safe, patient-centred care and aligns with the requirements of NSQHS standard 4 - medication safety, as well as standard 2 - partnering with consumers, by emphasising communication, shared decision-making and family involvement in care.

Designed for nurses and clinicians working in perioperative, acute and critical care settings, this activity provides practical, applicable learning that can be immediately translated into clinical practice.

In just 30 minutes, strengthen one of the most critical safety skills in paediatric care.