A pediatric client diagnosed with acute otitis media is receiving care in a clinic. The pr… — NCLEX-PN

A pediatric client diagnosed with acute otitis media is receiving care in a clinic. The practical nurse (PN) reviews the electronic health record:

Vital Signs & Measurements:
Temperature: $101.4^\circ\text{F}$ ( $38.6^\circ\text{C}$ )
Weight: $35.2\text{ lb}$
Allergies: Penicillin (mild rash)

Provider Prescriptions:
Ceftriaxone $50\text{ mg/kg/day}$ intramuscularly, divided into two equal doses.

Pharmacy Dispenses:
Ceftriaxone $1\text{ g}$ vial of sterile powder.
Reconstitution instructions: Add $2.1\text{ mL}$ of sterile water for injection to yield a final concentration of $350\text{ mg/mL}$ .

How many $\text{mL}$ should the PN administer per dose? (Record the answer to the nearest tenth. Do not include units in the answer.)

Answer: 1.1 mL

Answer

1.1

To administer the correct dose, the nurse must first convert the weight to kilograms, find the individual dose by dividing the daily total in half, and then use the final yield concentration (

350\text{ mg/mL}

) to determine the volume to administer. The volume of diluent added (

2.1\text{ mL}

) is a distractor and is not used in the formula.

Step-by-Step Solution

Convert pounds to kilograms.

16\text{ kg}

The medication is prescribed based on kilograms of body weight.

Calculate the total daily dose.

800\text{ mg/day}

Multiply the weight (

16\text{ kg}

) by the prescribed daily amount (

50\text{ mg/kg}

Determine the single dose amount.

400\text{ mg/dose}

The daily dose is divided into two equal doses (

800\text{ mg} \div 2 = 400\text{ mg}

Calculate the volume to administer.

1.1428...\text{ mL}

Divide the desired single dose (

400\text{ mg}

) by the concentration (

350\text{ mg/mL}

). The

2.1\text{ mL}

of diluent is required for reconstitution but is irrelevant to the final volume calculation.

Round to the nearest tenth.

1.1

Follow the explicit rounding instructions provided in the question stem.

Key Concept

Weight-based pediatric dosage calculation and medication reconstitution

Question

Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

Key Concept

Common Mistakes

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