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Difficulty: EasyPharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

A nurse is preparing to administer an oral suspension of an antibiotic to a pediatric client who weighs 44 lb44 \text{ lb}. The prescription is for 10 mg/kg/day10 \text{ mg/kg/day} to be given in two equally divided doses. The pharmacy dispenses an oral suspension with a concentration of 50 mg/mL50 \text{ mg/mL}. How many milliliters should the nurse administer per dose?

  1. 2 mL2 \text{ mL}Answer
  2. B
    4 mL4 \text{ mL}
  3. C
    4.4 mL4.4 \text{ mL}
  4. D
    8.8 mL8.8 \text{ mL}

Answer

The nurse should administer 2 mL2 \text{ mL} per dose.
To determine the correct dose, the nurse must first convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms (44 lb÷2.2=20 kg44 \text{ lb} \div 2.2 = 20 \text{ kg}). Next, the total daily dose is calculated (20 kg×10 mg/kg=200 mg/day20 \text{ kg} \times 10 \text{ mg/kg} = 200 \text{ mg/day}). Because the medication is given in two equally divided doses, the daily dose is divided by two (200 mg÷2=100 mg/dose200 \text{ mg} \div 2 = 100 \text{ mg/dose}). Finally, the nurse calculates the required volume using the available concentration (100 mg÷50 mg/mL=2 mL100 \text{ mg} \div 50 \text{ mg/mL} = 2 \text{ mL}).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms.
44 lb÷2.2 lb/kg=20 kg44 \text{ lb} \div 2.2 \text{ lb/kg} = 20 \text{ kg}
The medication dosage is prescribed based on kilograms of body weight.
2
Calculate the total daily dose in milligrams.
20 kg×10 mg/kg=200 mg/day20 \text{ kg} \times 10 \text{ mg/kg} = 200 \text{ mg/day}
This determines the total amount of medication the client needs over a 24-hour period.
3
Calculate the individual divided dose.
200 mg/day÷2 doses=100 mg/dose200 \text{ mg/day} \div 2 \text{ doses} = 100 \text{ mg/dose}
The prescription specifies that the daily dose must be divided into two equal doses.
4
Calculate the volume to administer per dose using the available concentration.
100 mg÷50 mg/mL=2 mL100 \text{ mg} \div 50 \text{ mg/mL} = 2 \text{ mL}
This converts the required milligram dose into the physical milliliter volume to be drawn up in the syringe.

Key Concept

Weight-Based Dosage Calculation
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Topics

Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

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