Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumPharmacological Therapies

A school-aged client weighing 44 lb is prescribed acetaminophen 15 mg/kg orally every 4 hours for a temperature of 101.8°F (38.8°C). The pharmacy provides acetaminophen oral suspension with a concentration of 160 mg/5 mL. How many mL will the practical nurse administer per dose? Record the answer to the nearest tenth. Do not include units in answer.

Answer: 9.4 mL

Answer

9.4
To determine the correct dose, the practical nurse must first convert the child's weight to kilograms (44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg). Next, calculate the desired dose in milligrams (20 kg × 15 mg/kg = 300 mg). Finally, calculate the volume to administer using the supplied concentration (300 mg desired ÷ 160 mg available × 5 mL = 9.375 mL). Following standard rounding rules, 9.375 rounds to 9.4.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Convert the client's weight from pounds (lb) to kilograms (kg).
44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg
The medication dosage is prescribed based on kilograms, so a weight conversion is required first.
2
Calculate the total required dose in milligrams (mg).
20 kg × 15 mg/kg = 300 mg
This establishes the total amount of medication needed for a single dose based on the client's body weight.
3
Calculate the required volume in milliliters (mL) using the formula (Desired / Have) × Volume.
(300 mg ÷ 160 mg) × 5 mL = 9.375 mL
This converts the required dose in mg to the physical volume needed based on the pharmacy's supplied concentration.
4
Round the final calculated volume to the nearest tenth.
9.375 mL rounds to 9.4 mL
The question explicitly requires the answer to be recorded to the nearest tenth.

Key Concept

Weight-based medication dosage calculation and fluid volume conversion
Rate this question

Topics

Pharmacological Therapies

More questions from this topic