Infant & Pediatric Calculation Skills Lab: Fluids & Electrolytes

Understanding factors, units, concepts, and clinical relevance in relation to infant and pediatric calculation skills is critical. In this module, we will review the basics of fluids and apply this knowledge to common clinical situations for pediatric patients. The module will provide background and an explanation of fluid management and concepts followed by an example about how to calculate and apply this knowledge.

CPE Level: 2
CPEU: 1.0 (valid until January 31, 2027)

Performance Indicators:

• 11.2.7 Performs calculations to determine nutritional requirements by identifying and utilizing patient appropriate formula. 10.3.8 Initiates or modifies orders for therapeutic diets and dietary and oral supplements based on PES statements.
• 11.3.3 Prioritizes specific nutrition problems to inform nutrition care plans and processes.
• 11.5.3 Adjusts interventions based on client/patient progress in meeting established goals.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the importance of fluid management for pediatric patients including common units and means of documentation.
2. Identify common units, rates, and calculations necessary to determine IVF, TPN, and understand how medications and other fluids can contribute to total fluid intake.
3. Identify common units, feeding regimens, and calculations necessary to determine enteral nutrition administration volumes.

Speakers

Bethany Hodges MS, RD

Bethany is a Registered Dietitian and Medical Science Liaison for Reckitt|Mead Johnson Nutrition. She received a Bachelor of Science in dietetics from the University of Georgia and Master of Science in clinical nutrition from the University of Memphis.

Her professional experience includes over a decade providing nutrition care for infant and pediatric patients. She practiced professionally as a clinical dietitian at Boston Medical Center, Duke University Hospital and Bronson Children's Hospital. During her time as a clinical dietitian, she provided clinical support for pediatric subspecialties including general inpatient pediatrics, pediatric intensive care, and pediatric hematology and oncology. In addition to caring for pediatric patients, her primary clinical focus and specialty was neonatal intensive care nutrition.

Along with her clinical work, she functioned as the lead for the infant feeding and preparation room at Duke University Hospital and the executive director for Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank. She spearheaded many small baby initiatives in her NICU focusing on early enteral feedings, modifying feeding protocols to improve tolerance, reduction of line days, improved linear growth, and progressive techniques for targeted fortification. Bethany has also authored multiple chapters in pediatric nutrition care manual and is an editor and author for the newly published Pocket Guide to Neonatal Nutrition, 3rd Ed.

Stephanie Merlino Barr MS, RDN, LD

Stephanie Merlino Barr, MS, RDN, LD is a NICU dietitian at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, OH and a PhD candidate in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at Case Western Reserve University's (CWRU) School of Medicine. Stephanie's research interests lie in the translation of body composition and human milk assessment practices into the clinical realm to drive improvement in the understanding of growth, nutrition requirements, as well as patient outcomes.

She developed and currently teaches a course on Human Lactation in the Nutrition Department at CWRU, which acts as a conduit to increasing the knowledge of trainees in dietetics and other healthcare fields on the art of breastfeeding and the science of human milk. Stephanie has also had the privilege to author multiple chapters in pediatric nutrition care manual and is an editor and author for the newly published Pocket Guide to Neonatal Nutrition, 3rd Ed.