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

Answer and Explanation

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.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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.

A. 1.4 mL B. 14 mL C. 7 mL D. 0.7 mL E. 0.7 mL

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

To answer this question, the nurse needs to perform the following steps:

1) Convert the patient's weight from pounds and ounces to kilograms, using the conversion factor of 1 pound = 0.45359237 kilograms¹². To do this, first convert the ounces to a fraction of a pound by dividing by 16, then add this fraction to the pounds, and then multiply by the conversion factor. For example:

7 lb, 11.2 oz = 7 + (11.2 / 16) lb
= 7.7 lb
= 7.7 × 0.45359237 kg
= 3.492 kg

2) Calculate the dose of Garamycin in milligrams, using the prescribed dose of 4 mg/kg and the patient's weight in kilograms. To do this, simply multiply the dose per kilogram by the weight in kilograms. For example:

4 mg/kg × 3.492 kg = 13.968 mg

3) Calculate the volume of Garamycin in milliliters, using the reconstituted dosage of 20 mg/10 mL and the dose in milligrams. To do this, use a proportion to find the unknown volume that corresponds to the known dose. For example:

20 mg / 10 mL = 13.968 mg / x mL Cross-multiply and solve for x: 20x = 139.68

x = 6.984 mL
x =7 mL

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A physician orders Garamycin (gentamicin) 4 mg/kg/dose IV piggyback every 12 hours for a newborn weighing 7 lb, 11.2 oz. After reconstitution, the dosage is 20 mg/10 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer to the patient?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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