A practical nurse (PN) is preparing to administer amoxicillin/clavulanate to a pediatric c… — NCLEX-PN

A practical nurse (PN) is preparing to administer amoxicillin/clavulanate to a pediatric client who weighs $31.9\text{ lb}$ . The healthcare provider prescribed $45\text{ mg/kg/day}$ by mouth, divided into equal doses to be given every $12$ hours. The pharmacy provides an oral suspension with a concentration of $400\text{ mg}/5\text{ mL}$ . How many $\text{mL}$ should the PN administer for each dose? (Record answer to the nearest tenth. Do not include units in answer.)

Answer: 4.1 mL

Answer

4.1

To accurately determine the required dose volume, the PN must calculate through a multi-step process. First, the child's weight is converted to kilograms (

31.9 \div 2.2 = 14.5\text{ kg}

). Second, the total daily dose is calculated by multiplying the weight by the prescribed rate (

14.5\text{ kg} \times 45\text{ mg/kg} = 652.5\text{ mg/day}

). Third, because the medication is given every 12 hours, the total daily dose must be divided into 2 doses (

652.5 \div 2 = 326.25\text{ mg/dose}

). Finally, the volume needed is found using the desired over have formula or dimensional analysis:

(326.25\text{ mg} \div 400\text{ mg}) \times 5\text{ mL} = 4.078125\text{ mL}

. Rounding to the nearest tenth results in

4.1

Step-by-Step Solution

Convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms.

31.9\text{ lb} \div 2.2\text{ lb/kg} = 14.5\text{ kg}

Weight-based dosing formulas require the client's weight in kilograms to ensure accurate dosage.

Calculate the total daily dose.

14.5\text{ kg} \times 45\text{ mg/kg/day} = 652.5\text{ mg/day}

The prescription is written as a total amount of medication per kilogram per day.

Calculate the amount for a single dose.

652.5\text{ mg/day} \div 2\text{ doses/day} = 326.25\text{ mg/dose}

The medication is to be given every 12 hours, which equals 2 doses per 24-hour period.

Calculate the volume for the single dose.

326.25\text{ mg} \times \frac{5\text{ mL}}{400\text{ mg}} = \frac{1631.25}{400} = 4.078125\text{ mL}

Use the concentration provided by the pharmacy (

400\text{ mg}/5\text{ mL}

) to convert the ordered dose into the volume to administer.

Round the final answer.

4.1\text{ mL}

The prompt explicitly instructs to record the answer to the nearest tenth.

Key Concept

Pediatric Weight-Based Dosage Calculation

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