A client with hypokalemia is prescribed potassium chloride 40\text{ mEq} by mouth daily. T… — NCLEX-PN

A client with hypokalemia is prescribed potassium chloride $40\text{ mEq}$ by mouth daily. The pharmacy supplies an oral liquid labeled $20\text{ mEq}/15\text{ mL}$ . How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Record your answer as a whole number. Do not include units in your answer.)

Answer: 30 mL

Answer

To determine the correct volume to administer, the prescribed dose (

40\text{ mEq}

) is divided by the available dose (

20\text{ mEq}

) and then multiplied by the supplied volume (

15\text{ mL}

). The calculation is

(40 / 20) \times 15 = 30

. Therefore, the nurse should administer

30\text{ mL}

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the desired dose prescribed by the healthcare provider.

Desired dose =

40\text{ mEq}

This is the target amount of medication the client needs to receive.

Identify the available concentration supplied by the pharmacy.

Have =

20\text{ mEq}

, Volume =

15\text{ mL}

These values are required to determine how much liquid contains the target dose.

Set up the dimensional analysis or desired-over-have formula:

\frac{\text{Desired}}{\text{Have}} \times \text{Volume}

\frac{40\text{ mEq}}{20\text{ mEq}} \times 15\text{ mL}

This formula accurately converts the prescribed dose into the deliverable liquid volume.

Perform the calculation.

2 \times 15\text{ mL} = 30\text{ mL}

Dividing

40

20

yields

2

. Multiplying

2

by the volume of

15

yields the final answer of

30

Key Concept

Liquid oral dosage calculation

Question

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