The physician orders an injection of dexamethasone (Decadron) 6mg IM for a patient.
The available stock is dexamethasone 4mg/1ml in a 5ml multidose vial.
How many mLs of this medication will the nurse prepare?
75 mLs
5 mLs
6 mLs
15 mLs
The Correct Answer is C
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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["2"]
Explanation
Let’s solve the medication math problem step by step:
Step 1: Identify the total daily dose of amoxicillin. The total daily dose is 2 gm/day.
Step 2: Convert the total daily dose from grams to milligrams, as the available medication is in milligrams. We know that 1 gm = 1000 mg, so 2 gm = 2000 mg.
Step 3: The total daily dose is divided into two doses. So, each dose will be 2000 mg ÷ 2 = 1000 mg.
Step 4: Determine the number of tablets for each dose. Each tablet contains 500 mg of amoxicillin. So, the number of tablets for each dose is 1000 mg ÷ 500 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
So, the nurse should administer 2 tablets of amoxicillin with each dose.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Administering the antibiotic dose before obtaining the cultures could potentially affect the results of the cultures. Antibiotics are designed to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, so administering them before obtaining the cultures could lead to false negatives. This could lead to incorrect or delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Choice B rationale:
While obtaining the urine culture before administering the antibiotic dose is a good step, it should not be done before obtaining the blood culture. Blood cultures are usually obtained before urine cultures because they can help identify bacteria or fungi in the blood. This can be crucial in diagnosing conditions like sepsis. Furthermore, administering the antibiotic dose before obtaining the blood culture could affect the results of the culture.
Choice C rationale:
Obtaining the blood culture before administering the antibiotic dose is a good step, but the urine culture should also be obtained before the antibiotic dose is administered. Administering the antibiotic dose before obtaining all necessary cultures could affect the results of the cultures and lead to incorrect or delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Choice D rationale:
This is the correct sequence of actions. The nurse should first obtain both blood and urine cultures before administering the antibiotic dose. This is because the antibiotic could potentially kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, which could affect the results of the cultures. By obtaining the cultures first, the healthcare team can ensure they are getting accurate results that have not been influenced by the antibiotics. This can lead to a more accurate diagnosis and more effective treatment plan.
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