A nurse is preparing to administer morphine 8 mg IV intermittent bolus to a client. The amount available is morphine 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
(Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Before administering the first dose of metformin, the nurse should evaluate the client's creatinine level. Metformin is primarily excreted by the kidneys, and its clearance from the body depends on the renal function. If the client has impaired kidney function, metformin can accumulate in the body and lead to potential adverse effects, particularly lactic acidosis.

Monitoring the creatinine level helps assess the client's kidney function and determines whether it is safe to administer metformin. If the creatinine level is elevated, indicating reduced kidney function, the nurse should consult with the healthcare provider to determine the appropriate dose adjustment or consider an alternative treatment option.

Let's go through the other options and explain why they are not the priority laboratory results to evaluate before administering metformin:

A. Potassium level: While monitoring potassium levels is important in some situations, it is not a primary concern before administering metformin. Metformin does not have a significant effect on potassium levels, and it is not a medication known for causing hypokalemia (low potassium levels).

C. Platelet count: Metformin does not have a direct impact on platelet count, and evaluating platelet count is not typically required before starting metformin therapy. Platelet count monitoring may be relevant for certain other medications or medical conditions, but it is not specific to metformin administration.

D. Liver enzymes: While it is essential to monitor liver function in clients on long-term metformin therapy, evaluating liver enzymes before the first dose of metformin is not the priority. Metformin is primarily cleared by the kidneys, and liver enzymes are not directly affected by its initial administration. However, ongoing monitoring of liver function may be necessary during long-term

To calculate the rate at which the IV pump should deliver dopamine, we can follow these steps:

Step 1: Convert the weight of the client from pounds to kilograms.

220 lb ÷ 2.2 = 100 kg (rounded to the nearest whole number)

Step 2: Calculate the total dose of dopamine per minute.

5 mcg/kg/min × 100 kg = 500 mcg/min

Step 3: Convert the dose from micrograms (mcg) to milligrams (mg).

500 mcg/min ÷ 1000 = 0.5 mg/min

Step 4: Determine the infusion rate in milliliters per hour (mL/hr).

The total volume of the solution is 250 mL.

The total dose of dopamine is 400 mg.

So, the infusion rate is (0.5 mg/min ÷ 400 mg) × 250 mL = 0.3125 mL/min.

Step 5: Convert the infusion rate from mL/min to mL/hr.

0.3125 mL/min × 60 min/hr = 18.75 mL/hr (rounded to the nearest tenth).

Therefore, the nurse should set the IV pump to deliver 18.8 mL/hr (rounded to the nearest tenth).