| Course | DNP 642 Applied Pharmacotherapeutics for Pediatrics |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 1 |
| Paper type | OTC medication slide presentation |
| Length | About 677 words, 5 pages |
| Format | APA 7 slide deck with speaker notes |
| School | Arizona State University |
| Program | Doctor of Nursing Practice |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for DNP 642 Module 1
Small Bottle, Big Decisions: Cetirizine for Children With Allergic Rhinitis, From Shelf to Prescription
Student Name
Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University
DNP 642: Applied Pharmacotherapeutics for Pediatrics
Instructor Name
Month Day, Year
Slide 1: Cetirizine for Children
OTC PowerPoint. A second-generation antihistamine for allergic rhinitis. Applied Pharmacotherapeutics for Pediatrics.
Speaker notes: I chose cetirizine because parents buy it every spring without a prescription, and because writing it correctly for a young child takes more care than it looks.
Slide 2: The Patient
4-year-old, 17 kg, sneezing, itchy eyes and clear rhinorrhea every spring. No asthma. Parents have tried a first-generation antihistamine at night that made him irritable.
Speaker notes: This composite patient has typical seasonal allergic rhinitis, with sneezing and itching as the main complaints. That pattern matters when we compare options later.
Slide 3: How It Works and What It Treats
Selective peripheral H1 receptor antagonist. Labeled uses: allergic rhinitis symptoms (sneezing, rhinorrhea, itchy nose, throat and eyes) and hives. Less sedating than first-generation antihistamines, though some children become drowsy.
Speaker notes: Cetirizine blocks histamine at H1 receptors with less penetration into the brain than diphenhydramine. It works within about an hour and lasts a day, which suits once-daily dosing.
Slide 4: Cost
Store-brand cetirizine solution costs far less per dose than the brand-name product with the same active ingredient. Generic chewables and tablets cost less per dose than liquid. Some state Medicaid plans cover OTC antihistamines with a prescription.
Speaker notes: I compared the shelf prices at two local pharmacies. The active ingredient and strength are identical, so I encourage families to buy the store brand. For families on Medicaid, a prescription may make the product free, which is one reason to write one.
Slide 5: Dosing by Age (Label)
Under 2 years: ask a clinician. 2 to under 6 years: 2.5 mg once daily, may increase to 5 mg daily or 2.5 mg every 12 hours. 6 years and older: 5 mg or 10 mg once daily. Do not exceed the labeled maximum.
Speaker notes: These are the OTC label directions (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2024). For our 4-year-old, the starting dose is 2.5 mg, which is 2.5 mL of the 1 mg/mL solution. The common error is a parent using an adult product or a kitchen spoon.
Slide 6: Packaging
Oral solution 1 mg/mL with a marked dosing cup; chewable tablets; 5 mg and 10 mg tablets for older children. Child-resistant caps. Store out of reach.
Speaker notes: Packaging is a safety issue. I recommend an oral syringe rather than a cup for small volumes, and I remind families that chewables look like candy.
Slide 7: Alternatives
Intranasal corticosteroids: most effective for persistent or bothersome symptoms, especially congestion. Other second-generation oral antihistamines: loratadine, fexofenadine. Avoid first-generation antihistamines because of sedation and paradoxical agitation. Leukotriene antagonists are not first-line.
Speaker notes: National guidance recommends intranasal steroids when symptoms affect quality of life and oral second-generation antihistamines when sneezing and itching are the main complaints, and it advises against leukotriene receptor antagonists as primary therapy (Seidman et al., 2015). A practice parameter reaches similar conclusions and notes that intranasal steroids are the most effective single agents for allergic rhinitis (Dykewicz et al., 2020).
Slide 8: Choosing for Our Patient
Main symptoms: sneezing and itching, seasonal. Choice: cetirizine once daily during pollen season. Add a pediatric intranasal steroid if congestion becomes prominent.
Speaker notes: Because his symptoms are mostly sneezing and itching, an oral second-generation antihistamine is a reasonable first choice, consistent with the guideline. If congestion dominates, an intranasal steroid would be better.
Slide 9: Writing the Prescription
Patient name, date of birth, weight 17 kg. Cetirizine HCl oral solution 1 mg/mL. Sig: Take 2.5 mL (2.5 mg) by mouth once daily for allergy symptoms. Dispense: 120 mL. Refills: 2. Prescriber name, credentials, contact.
Speaker notes: Writing both the milliliter volume and the milligram dose protects against errors. I include the weight, the concentration and the indication, so the pharmacist can check the dose.
Slide 10: Teaching Points for Families
Use the syringe, not a spoon. Give at the same time daily. Report drowsiness or irritability. Seek care for wheeze or breathing difficulty.
Speaker notes: The most important teaching is measuring correctly and recognizing when allergy symptoms might be asthma. Thank you.
References
Dykewicz, M. S., Wallace, D. V., Amrol, D. J., Baroody, F. M., Bernstein, J. A., Craig, T. J., Dinakar, C., Ellis, A. K., Finegold, I., Golden, D. B. K., Greenhawt, M. J., Hagan, J. B., Horner, C. C., Khan, D. A., Lang, D. M., Larenas-Linnemann, D. E. S., Lieberman, J. A., Meltzer, E. O., Oppenheimer, J. J., ... Shaker, M. S. (2020). Rhinitis 2020: A practice parameter update. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 146(4), 721-767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2020.07.007
Seidman, M. D., Gurgel, R. K., Lin, S. Y., Schwartz, S. R., Baroody, F. M., Bonner, J. R., Dawson, D. E., Dykewicz, M. S., Hackell, J. M., Han, J. K., Ishman, S. L., Krouse, H. J., Malekzadeh, S., Mims, J. W., Omole, F. S., Reddy, W. D., Wallace, D. V., Walsh, S. A., Warren, B. E., ... Nnacheta, L. C. (2015). Clinical practice guideline: Allergic rhinitis. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 152(1 Suppl.), S1-S43. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599814561600
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2024). DailyMed: Children's cetirizine hydrochloride oral solution, drug facts label. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/
What the DNP 642 Module 1 instructions ask for
The posted syllabus places Assignment 2, the OTC PowerPoint, in the week on respiratory, eye and ear, asthma and allergy medications, after a review of the course's prescribing slides. Choose one over-the-counter medication and investigate its cost, use, alternative medication options, dosing and packaging, then practice writing a prescription for it. The syllabus counts this assignment among three assignments and case studies worth 150 of the course's 370 points. Expect to present a short, organized slide deck that covers each required element, with dosing taken from a reliable reference such as the product label or a pediatric dosage handbook. Choosing a medication families commonly buy for children makes the exercise most useful in practice.
How the DNP 642 Module 1 example is put together
Ten annotated slides make up the deck. It introduces a composite patient so the medication can be applied rather than described in the abstract. Slides then cover mechanism and labeled uses, cost comparisons, label dosing by age with conversion to milliliters, packaging and safe measuring, and alternatives positioned against two national guidelines. A slide explains the choice for this patient, another shows a complete prescription with weight, concentration, dose in both units and refills, and the last gives family teaching points. Three sources support it: an otolaryngology guideline, an allergy practice parameter and the product label. Each slide answers one required element, so faculty can check coverage at a glance.
Reading the DNP 642 Module 1 grading rubric
Faculty are likely to check that every required element appears: cost, use, alternatives, dosing, packaging and a correctly written prescription. Presentations earn more when dosing is accurate for the patient's age and weight, when alternatives are compared using guidelines rather than listed, and when packaging is discussed as a safety issue. A prescription that includes weight, concentration, dose in milligrams and milliliters, quantity and refills shows prescribing competence. Clear, uncluttered slides and practical family teaching round out the deck. Faculty may also notice whether the deck explains why an OTC product still needs a careful prescription for a young child, such as concentration differences between products.
DNP 642 Module 1 help: mistakes that cost marks
A common weakness is a deck that describes the drug well but leaves out cost or packaging. Check each required element against the assignment. Another is a prescription missing the concentration or the patient's weight. Confirm doses against the current label or a pediatric dosage handbook. If you would like help building your own OTC presentation, tell the desk which medication you chose and the age of the patient you have in mind. Use store shelves or pharmacy websites for current prices. Let the notes carry the detail so each slide stays lean. Double-check that your milliliter volume matches the concentration of the exact product you name, since infant and children's products can differ, and show the arithmetic in your notes.
Write yours, or have the desk draft it
This paper is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Arizona State University document. Read it for the moves, then write your own to the instructions in your classroom. If you want one built to your exact prompt and rubric, the first custom sample is free and arrives in 24 to 48 hours.
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DNP 642 Module 1 questions, answered
Where can I find a free DNP 642 Module 1 sample paper?
The complete DNP 642 OTC PowerPoint sample on cetirizine for a young child, with cost, dosing, packaging, alternatives and a written prescription, is on this page.
What does the DNP 642 OTC assignment require?
Choosing one OTC medication and investigating its cost, use, alternatives, dosing and packaging, then writing a practice prescription.
What is the cetirizine dose for a 4-year-old?
The OTC label directs 2.5 mg once daily for ages 2 to under 6, which may be increased to 5 mg daily; confirm with a current reference.
Is cetirizine or a nasal steroid better for allergic rhinitis?
Intranasal steroids are the most effective single treatment, while oral second-generation antihistamines suit sneezing and itching.
Why write a prescription for an OTC medication?
It documents the dose and concentration, allows pharmacist checking and may make the product covered by insurance.