After assessing a client, a primary healthcare provider prescribes diphenhydramine 25 mg IV STAT for anaphylaxis. The pharmacy supplies a vial with a concentration of 50 mg/mL.
How much and when should a nurse administer this medication?
Administer 0.5 mL of medication immediately to the client
Administer 25 mg of medication once a day to the client for two weeks
Administer 25 mg of medication every eight hours
Administer 0.5 mL of medication if the client has symptoms of allergy
Administer 0.5 mL of medication if the client has symptoms of allergy
The Correct Answer is A
To find how much medication to administer, you need to calculate the following:
- The volume of diphenhydramine in milliliters
- The infusion time in minutes
First, divide the dose of diphenhydramine by the concentration to get the volume in milliliters:
25 mg / 50 mg/mL = 0.5 mL diphenhydramine should be diluted in 10 to 20 mL of normal saline and infused over at least 2 minutes.
Therefore, the nurse should administer **0.5 mL** of diphenhydramine diluted in 10 to 20 mL of normal saline over **at least 2 minutes**.
The nurse should administer this medication **as soon as possible** after receiving the order and the medication from the pharmacy, as STAT means immediately or urgently. The nurse should also monitor the client for signs of improvement or adverse reactions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
First, we need to convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms using the conversion factor 1 kg =
2.2 lb:
154 lb / 2.2 lb/kg = 70 kg
Next, we need to calculate the dose of nitroprusside in mcg/min using the formula Dose = Weight × Dosage:
Dose = 70 kg × 3 mcg/kg/min = 210 mcg/min
Then, we need to convert the dose of nitroprusside from mcg/min to mg/hr using the conversion factor 1 mg = 1000 mcg:
210 mcg/min × 1 mg/1000 mcg × 60 min/hr = 12.6 mg/hr
Finally, we need to calculate the rate of nitroprusside in mL/hr using the formula Rate = Dose/Concentration:
Rate = 12.6 mg/hr / 100 mg/mL = 0.126 mL/hr
To round to the nearest hundredth, we get 0.13 mL/hr, which is approximately equal to 1.26 mL/hr.
Therefore, the nurse should program the IV pump to deliver nitroprusside at a rate of 1.26 mL/hr.

Correct Answer is A
Explanation
To find the rate in mL/hr, you need to calculate the following:
- The concentration of nitroglycerin in the IV solution in mcg/mL
- The infusion rate in mL/hr using the formula: Infusion rate (mL/h) = (Dose (mcg/min) x 60 min/h) / Concentration (mcg/mL)
First, convert the concentration of nitroglycerin from mg to mcg by multiplying by 1000:
125 mg x 1000 = 125,000 mcg
Then, divide the amount of nitroglycerin by the volume of the IV solution to get the concentration in mcg/mL:
125,000 mcg / 500 mL = 250 mcg/mL
Next, plug in the values into the formula for infusion rate:
Infusion rate (mL/h) = (42 mcg/min x 60 min/h) / 250 mcg/mL
Simplify and solve for the infusion rate:
Infusion rate (mL/h) = 10.08 mL/h
Therefore, the nurse should program the IV pump to deliver **10.1 mL/h** to infuse nitroglycerin at 42 mcg/minute.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.
