A primary healthcare provider prescribes 2 mg/kg of pyrimethamine to a child with severe drooling. A nurse finds that the child weighs 44 lbs. Upon seeing the drug label, the nurse finds that 5 mL of medication contains 1 mg of the drug.
What should the nurse do to provide safe medication to the child?
Administer 1 cup of medication to the child
Administer 1 tsp of medication to the child
Administer 0.8 mg of medication to the child
Administer 2 mL of medication to the child
The Correct Answer is D
This answer is correct because it is based on a series of unit conversions and calculations. The nurse should follow these steps to provide safe medication to the child:
1) Convert the child's weight from pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2, since there are 2.2 lbs in 1 kg. The child weighs 20 kg.
2) Multiply the prescribed dose per kilogram by the child's weight in kilograms to get the total dose in milligrams. The child needs 40 mg of pyrimethamine.
3) Use the ratio given on the drug label to convert the total dose in milligrams to the volume in milliliters. The nurse can set up a proportion as follows:
1 mg / 5 mL = 40 mg / x mL
Cross-multiplying and solving for x gives:
x = 200 mL
Therefore, the nurse should administer 200 mL of medication to deliver 40 mg of pyrimethamine to the child.
4) Convert the volume in milliliters to the volume in teaspoons by dividing by 5, since there are 5 mL in 1 tsp. The nurse should administer 40 tsp of medication to the child.
5) Convert the volume in teaspoons to the volume in cups by dividing by 48, since there are 48 tsp in 1 cup. The nurse should administer 0.83 cups of medication to the child.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A lozenge is a type of medication that is designed to dissolve slowly in the mouth, usually to treat sore throat, cough, or oral infections. It should not be divided or crushed for administration because it may alter its effectiveness, taste, or absorption. It should also not be swallowed whole because it may cause choking or irritation.
A capsule is a type of medication that consists of a gelatin shell enclosing a powder or liquid. It can be opened and sprinkled on soft food or mixed with water for administration unless it is an extended-release or enteric-coated capsule.
A scored tablet is a type of medication that has a groove or indentation on its surface to facilitate breaking into equal halves or quarters. It can be divided along the score line for administration unless it is an extended-release or enteric-coated tablet.
An unscored tablet is a type of medication that does not have a groove or indentation on its surface. It can be crushed or cut into smaller pieces for administration unless it is an extended-release or enteric-coated tablet.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The safe dose of ertapenem for children is **15 mg/kg** twice daily, with a maximum dose of **500 mg** per dose. Therefore, the correct answer is **d) 15 mg/kg twice daily**. Ertapenem is a carbapenem antibiotic that is used to treat various infections caused by susceptible bacteria.
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