Wgu Hesi dosage calculation ( 52 Questions)
The healthcare provider prescribes a loading dose of digoxin 0.6 mg intravenously (IV) for a client with heart failure (HF). The nurse obtains digoxin Injection 500 mcg in 2 mL vial from the electronic medication system. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer: 1.2
Here's the breakdown of the calculation:
Convert the prescribed dose to milligrams (mg):
We are given the dose in mcg (micrograms). To match the concentration of the medication (mg/mL), we need to convert mcg to mg.
Conversion factor: 1 mg = 1000 mcg
Dose (mg) = Prescribed dose (mcg) / Conversion factor
Dose (mg) = 0.6 mg / 1000 mcg/mg
Dose (mg) = 0.0006 mg (convert to mg for easier calculation)
Calculate the volume to administer:
We know the dose (mg) and the concentration (mg/mL) of the medication in the vial.
Volume (mL) = Dose (mg) / Concentration (mg/mL)
Volume (mL) = 0.0006 mg / (500 mcg/mL) (convert mcg/mL to mg/mL for consistency)
Volume (mL) = 0.0006 mg / (0.5 mg/mL)
Volume (mL) = 0.0012 mL (round to one decimal place as appropriate for medication administration)
Adjust for unit size:
The medication vial contains 2 mL, and we calculated a volume of 0.0012 mL.
However, it's not possible or safe to administer such a small fraction of the vial content.
In practice, the nurse would need to administer the smallest measurable volume possible using this specific vial.
Since the vial contains 2 mL, 1.2 mL is the lowest whole number volume that can be accurately measured and administered from this vial.
Therefore, while the calculated dose based on the prescribed amount is 0.0012 mL, the nurse should administer 1.2 mL from the available 2 mL vial.
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