A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is receiving morphine via a continuous epidural infusion.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?

To solve this problem, we first need to convert the client’s weight from pounds to kilograms. Then, we can calculate the total amount of amikacin needed. Finally, we can find out how many milliliters of amikacin injection the nurse should administer.

1. Convert the client’s weight to kilograms: Given that 1 kg = 2.2 lbs, we can calculate the client’s weight in kilograms as follows:

Weightinkg=WeightinlbsConversionfactor=110lbs2.2lbs/kg≈50kgWeightinkg=ConversionfactorWeightinlbs​=2.2lbs/kg110lbs​≈50kg

1. Calculate the total amount of amikacin needed: The doctor ordered 5 mg of amikacin per kg of body weight, so the total amount of amikacin needed is:

Totalamikacin=Doseperkg×Weightinkg=5mg/kg×50kg=250mgTotalamikacin=Doseperkg×Weightinkg=5mg/kg×50kg=250mg

1. Find out how many milliliters of amikacin injection the nurse should administer: Given that the available amikacin injection is 250 mg/mL, we can calculate the volume of injection needed as follows:

Volumeofinjection=TotalamikacinConcentrationofinjection=250mg250mg/mL=1mLVolumeofinjection=ConcentrationofinjectionTotalamikacin​=250mg/mL250mg​=1mL

So, the nurse should administer 1 mL of amikacin injection.

Choice A rationale:

Asking for a home phone number is not an effective method for identifying a patient. Phone numbers can be easily forgotten or mixed up, especially in a hospital setting where a patient may be under stress or experiencing health issues.

Choice B rationale:

Room numbers can change if the patient is moved, and other patients may have previously occupied the same room. Therefore, room numbers are not reliable identifiers.

Choice C rationale:

Asking the patient to confirm their own name is one of the most direct and reliable ways to verify their identity. This method respects patient autonomy and privacy while ensuring accurate identification.

Choice D rationale:

Age alone is not a reliable identifier because it does not distinguish between different patients of the same age.