Dosage calculations
A Child with a UTI tract infection is receiving Cephalexin (Keflex) 100 mg suspension PO QID. Keflex oral suspension is labeled "125 mg in 5 ml". How many ml should the nurse administer?
100mg/125mg x 5 ml = 4 ml
A client receives a prescription for an intravenous infusion 0.45% sodium chloride 500 ml to be infused over 6 hours. 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.
Calculate using Volume/Time: 500 ml/6 hours = 83.3 ml/hour
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Energix-B) 5 mcg IM to a school-aged child. The vaccine is labeled, 10 mcg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth).
Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml 10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
The healthcare provider prescribes an IV solution of 5% dextrose in water with magnesium sulfate 4 gram/50 ml to be infused over 30 minutes for a client with preeclampsia. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour?
50 ml x 60 mins =3000 3000/30 mins= 100 ml/hr
A child who weighs 55 pounds receives a prescription for atovaquone with proguanil (Malarone Pediatric) 125 mg/50 mg PO daily. A drug reference states that children 11 to 20 kg should receive 1 pediatric tablet daily; 21 to 30 kg should receive 2 pediatric tablets daily; 31 to 40 kg should receive 3 pediatric tablets daily; and greater than 40 kg should receive 1 adult tablet daily with food. The drug is available as atovaquone 62.5 mg/proguanil 25 mg pediatric tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
83.3
The healthcare provider prescribes oxytocin (Pitocin) 0.5 milliunits/minute for a client in labor. One liter Ringer's Lactate with 10 units of oxytocin (Pitocin) is infusing. The nurse should program the infusion pump at how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only.)
D/H x Q, 0.5 milliunits / 10,000 milliunits x 1000 ml = 0.05 ml/minute. 0.05 x 60 minutes = 3 ml/hour.
A client is receiving dantrolene sodium (Dantrium) PO for malignant hyperthermia. The maximum safe dose is 8 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses. The client currently weighs 48.5 kg. What is the maximum safe dose the nurse should administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)
Determine the maximum number of mg this client should receive in a day: 48.5 kg x 8 mg/kg/day = 388 mg/day. Next determine how many mg the nurse should deliver each dose: 388 mg/4 doses = 97 mg.
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 pericardial effusion has phrenic nerve compression resulting in recurrent hiccups. The healthcare provider prescribes metoclopramide (Reglan) liquid 10 mg PO q 6 hours. Reglan is available as 5 mg/5 ml. A measuring device marked in teaspoons is being used. How many teaspoons should the nurse administer?
First, using the formula, Desired dose/dose on Hand x Quantity of volume on hand (D/H x Q), 10 mg / 5 mg x 5ml = 10 ml. Next using the known conversion of 5 ml = 1 tsp: 5 ml : 1 tsp =10 ml : X 5 / 10 : 1 / X 5X = 10 X = 2
