A patient is experiencing nausea and decreased appetite during drug therapy with a tetracycline antibiotic.
What is the nurse’s best advice to the patient?

Answer and explanation

The question is about calculating the volume of methylnaltrexone to administer to a client. The client needs a dose of 12 mg, and the available methylnaltrexone is 8 mg/0.4 mL.

Let’s calculate the volume step by step:

Step 1: Identify the given values:

• Desired dose (D) = 12 mg
• Available dose (A) = 8 mg
• Volume for available dose (V) = 0.4 mL

Step 2: Use the given values in the formula for calculating the volume to administer:

Volume to administer=Available doseDesired dose×Volume for available dose Step 3: Substitute the given values into the formula:

Volume to administer=(12*0.4)/8

Step 4: Perform the multiplication and division:

Volume to administer=4.8mL/8

Step 5: Simplify the division to find the volume to administer:

Volume to administer=0.6mL

So, the nurse should administer 0.6 mL of methylnaltrexone to the client.

The correct answer is Choice C.

Let’s go through the calculation step by step:

Step 1: Identify the order and the available medication. The order is for dexamethasone (Decadron) 6mg IM. The available stock is dexamethasone 4mg/1ml in a 5ml multidose vial.

Step 2: Determine the amount of medication needed to fulfill the order. This is done by dividing the ordered amount by the concentration of the available medication.

So, we have:

Step 2 Calculation=Concentration of Available MedicationOrdered Amount Substituting the given values: Step 2 Calculation=4 mg/mL6 mg Step 3: Perform the calculation.

Step 3 Calculation=1.5 mL

So, the nurse will prepare 1.5 mL of this medication.

Now, let’s discuss the rationales for each choice:

Choice A rationale:

75 mLs is not the correct amount. This would be a significantly larger dose than ordered, which could lead to an overdose.

Choice B rationale:

5 mLs is not the correct amount. This would also be a larger dose than ordered, which could lead to an overdose.

Choice C rationale:

1.5 mLs is the correct amount. This is calculated by dividing the ordered dose (6 mg) by the concentration of the available medication (4 mg/mL).

Choice D rationale:

15 mLs is not the correct amount. This would be a significantly larger dose than ordered, which could lead to an overdose.