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Difficulty: EasyPharmacological Therapies

An 88-year-old pediatric client is prescribed 320 mg320\text{ mg} of liquid acetaminophen for a mild fever. The clinic's medication supply provides acetaminophen at a concentration of 160 mg160\text{ mg} per 5 mL5\text{ mL}. What is the correct volume in milliliters (mL\text{mL}) that the practical nurse should administer?

  1. 10 mL10\text{ mL}Answer
  2. B
    2 mL2\text{ mL}
  3. C
    5 mL5\text{ mL}
  4. D
    15 mL15\text{ mL}

Answer

The correct answer is 10 mL10\text{ mL}.
To determine the correct volume, the nurse uses the formula: (Desired / Have) ×\times Volume. Plugging in the clinical values gives (320 mg160 mg\frac{320\text{ mg}}{160\text{ mg}}) ×\times 5 mL5\text{ mL}. The ratio of 320320 to 160160 simplifies to 22. Multiplying 22 by 5 mL5\text{ mL} yields a final answer of 10 mL10\text{ mL}. Administering this exact volume ensures the client receives the prescribed therapeutic dose safely.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the desired dose prescribed by the provider.
Desired dose = 320 mg320\text{ mg}.
This establishes the numerator for the dosage calculation formula.
2
Identify the available medication concentration (the dose on hand and its volume).
Have = 160 mg160\text{ mg}, Volume = 5 mL5\text{ mL}.
These values are required to complete the denominator and volume multiplier in the formula.
3
Set up the calculation using the desired-over-have formula.
320 mg160 mg×5 mL\frac{320\text{ mg}}{160\text{ mg}} \times 5\text{ mL}.
This formula ensures the dose is properly converted into the correct liquid volume.
4
Perform the mathematical calculation to find the final volume.
2×5 mL=10 mL2 \times 5\text{ mL} = 10\text{ mL}.
Solving the equation provides the exact milliliter amount to administer to the client.

Key Concept

Liquid Medication Dosage Calculation
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Topics

Pharmacological Therapies

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