Medication Questions to Review

A client who weighs 176 pounds is receiving an IV infusion with esmolol hydrochloride (Brevibloc) at 48 ml/hour. The IV solution is labeled with the concentration of Brevibloc 10 mg/ml. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only.)

100 Convert pounds to kg by dividing 176 pounds by 2.2 pounds = 80 kg. Convert the IV concentration from mg to mcg. 1 mg : 1000 mcg :: 10 mg : 10,000 mcg. Infusion rate (48 ml/hour) x concentration (10,000 mcg/ml) divided by 60 minutes/hour x 80 kg = 48 x 10,000 divided by 60 x 80 = 480,000 / 4800 = 100 mcg/kg/minute.

A 180-pound adult male is admitted to the Emergency Center after receiving thermal burns to 60 percent of his body. Using the Parkland formula of 4 ml/kg/24 hours, the client should receive how many ml of fluid during the first 24 hours? (Enter the numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)

19632 Using the Parkland formula, the client's fluid requirements for the first 24 hours after injury: 4 ml lactated Ringer's solution x Body weight (in kilograms) x Percent burn. Convert 180 pounds to kg = 180 / 2.2 = 81.8 kg 4 ml x 81.8 kg x 60 = 19632 ml over the first 24 hours.

A client who has a sinus infection is receiving a prescription for amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium (Augmentin) 500 mg PO q8 hours. The available form is 250 mg amoxicillin/125mg clavulanate tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer for each dose? (Enter numeric value only.)

2 Using Desired/Available formula: 500 mg/250 mg x 1 tablet = 2

A loading dose of acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) 8 grams, which is available as a 20% solution (200 mg acetylcysteine per ml) is prescribed by nasogastric tube for a client with acetaminophen toxicity. How many ml of diluent should be added to the medication to obtain a 1:4 concentration? (Enter the numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the whole number.)

8 grams = 8,000 mg prescribed dose. Using the formula, D/H x Q, 8,000 mg / 200 mg x 1 ml = 40 ml of the 20% solution. Dilute the 40 ml to a 1:4 concentration for administration using ratio and proportion, 1 : 4 solution :: 40 ml : X X= 160 ml total volume to administer. Subtract total volume of 160 ml - 40 ml of 20% concentration = 120 ml diluent is added to obtain a 1:4 concentration.

A client is receiving a cephalosporin antibiotic IV and complains of pain and irritation at the infusion site. The nurse observes erythema, swelling, and a red streak along the vessel above the IV access site. Which action should the nurse take at this time? A. Administer the medication more rapidly using the same IV site. B. Initiate an alternate site for the IV infusion of the medication. C. Notify the healthcare provider before administering the next dose. D. Give the client a PRN dose of aspirin while the medication infuses.

A cephalosporin antibiotic that is administered IV may cause vessel irritation. Rotating the infusion site minimizes the risk of thrombophlebitis, so an alternate infusion site should be initiated (B) before administering the next dose. Rapid administration (A) of intravenous cephalosporins can potentiate vessel irritation and increase the risk of thrombophlebitis. (C) is not necessary to initiate an alternative IV site. Although aspirin has antiinflammatory actions, (D) is not indicated. Correct Answer: B

A client is receiving Heparin Sodium 25,000 Units in 5% Dextrose Injection 500 ml IV at 1,000 unit/hour per protocol for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The client's partial thromboplastin time (PTT) is 76 seconds. Based on the ACS protocol, the infusion should be decreased by 100 units/hour for a PTT between 71 to 80 seconds. The nurse should program the pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only.)

Adjust the infusion to 900 units/hour (1,000 units/hour minus 100 units/hour per protocol). Using the formula, D/H x Q, 900 units/1 hour divided by 25,000 units x 500 ml = 90/5= 18 ml/hour.

A child who is scheduled for a kidney transplant receives a prescription for basiliximab (Simulect) 20 mg IV 2 hours prior to surgery. The medication is available in a 20 mg vial that is reconstituted by adding 5 ml sterile water for injection, and administered in a 50 ml bag of normal saline over 30 minutes. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter the numeric value only.)

After reconstituting the medication vial, the nurse adds the 5 ml of medication to the 50 ml of sterile water to result in a 55 ml volume to infuse in 30 minutes. Using the formula, Volume/Time = 55 ml / 0.5 hours = 110 ml/hour

A client with acute hemorrhagic anemia is to receive four units of packed RBCs (red blood cells) as rapidly as possible. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement? A. Obtain the pre-transfusion hemoglobin level. B. Prime the tubing and prepare a blood pump set-up. C. Monitor vital signs q15 minutes for the first hour. D. Ensure the accuracy of the blood type match.

All interventions should be implemented prior to administering blood, but (D) has the highest priority. Any time blood is administered, the nurse should ensure the accuracy of the blood type match in order to prevent a possible hemolytic reaction. Correct Answer: D

A client is to receive cimetidine (Tagamet) 300 mg q6h IVPB. The preparation arrives from the pharmacy diluted in 50 ml of 0.9% NaCl. The nurse plans to administer the IVPB dose over 20 minutes. For how many ml/hr should the infusion pump be set to deliver the secondary infusion?

The infusion rate is calculated as a ratio proportion problem, i.e., 50 ml/ 20 min : x ml/ 60 min. Multiply extremes and means 50 × 60 /20x 1= 300/20=150 Correct Answer: 150

Understanding Parkland's Formula

https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/accident-and-emergency/parkland-formula-fluid-resuscitation-in-burns-patients-1-using-formulas/1060595.article

0.9% normal saline with inamrinone (Inocor) 0.1 grams/100 ml is prescribed for a client with heart failure. The medication is to be delivered at a rate of 400 mcg/minute. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)

First calculate the number of mcg/hour: 400 mcg x 60 minutes = 24000 mcg/hour. Next calculate the number of ml/hour needed to administer 24,000 mcg/hour: 100,000 mcg: 100ml :: 24,000 mcg : X 100,000/24,000 :: 100/X 100,000X = 2,400,000 X = 24 ml/hour.

A client with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is receiving an infusion of 5 % dextrose in water with amikacin (Amikin) 0.572 grams/100 ml every 12 hours. The nurse prepares the dose of amikacin using a vial labeled, 250 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse add to the infusion? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)

First convert gram to milligram: 1 gm = 1000mg .572 gram x 1000 = 572 mg. Next use the formula D/H x Q: 572/250 x 1 = 2.288 (rounded to) 2.3 ml.

The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving 24-hour total parenteral nutrition (TPN) via a central line at 54 ml/hr. When initially assessing the client, the nurse notes that the TPN solution has run out and the next TPN solution is not available. What immediate action should the nurse take? A. Infuse normal saline at a keep vein open rate. B. Discontinue the IV and flush the port with heparin. C. Infuse 10 percent dextrose and water at 54 ml/hr. D. Obtain a stat blood glucose level and notify the healthcare provider.

TPN is discontinued gradually to allow the client to adjust to decreased levels of glucose. Administering 10% dextrose in water at the prescribed rate (C) will keep the client from experiencing hypoglycemia until the next TPN solution is available. The client could experience a hypoglycemic reaction if the current level of glucose (A) is not maintained or if the TPN is discontinued abruptly (B). There is no reason to obtain a stat blood glucose level (D) and the healthcare provider cannot do anything about this situation. Correct Answer: C