A nurse is preparing to administer 7.5 mL of ampicillin 250 mg oral suspension to a toddler who has otitis media. The nurse should recognize that 7.5 mL is equivalent to how many tsp? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
To convert milliliters (mL) to teaspoons (tsp), it’s important to remember that 1 teaspoon is equivalent to 5 mL. Using this conversion factor, we can calculate how many teaspoons are in 7.5 mL:teaspoons=7.5 mL5 mL per tsp=1.5 tsp\text{teaspoons} = \frac{7.5 \, \text{mL}}{5 \, \text{mL per tsp}} = 1.5 \, \text{tsp}teaspoons=5mL per tsp7.5mL=1.5tsp
So, 7.5 mL is equivalent to 1.5 teaspoons.
Explanation
When administering medications, especially to children, it’s crucial to ensure accurate dosage. This calculation ensures that the correct amount of medication is given, preventing underdosing or overdosing. In this scenario, the nurse is preparing to administer ampicillin, an antibiotic commonly prescribed for infections like otitis media (an infection of the middle ear), which is particularly common in toddlers.
Conversion Details
- Conversion Factor: The key conversion factor here is that 1 teaspoon (tsp) equals 5 milliliters (mL). This is a standard conversion in medication administration.
- Calculation: To determine the number of teaspoons in 7.5 mL, you divide 7.5 mL by 5 mL per teaspoon:7.5 mL÷5 mL per tsp=1.5 tsp7.5 \, \text{mL} \div 5 \, \text{mL per tsp} = 1.5 \, \text{tsp}7.5mL÷5mL per tsp=1.5tsp
- Rounding: Since the calculation results in exactly 1.5 teaspoons, no rounding is needed. However, in cases where rounding is required, the nurse must round to the nearest tenth, ensuring precision and clarity. A leading zero is used for decimal values less than 1 (e.g., 0.5 tsp), and no trailing zeros are included (e.g., 1.5 tsp, not 1.50 tsp).
Importance in Nursing Practice
Accurate dosage calculation is essential in nursing practice, especially for pediatric patients, where even small errors can lead to significant consequences. By understanding and applying these conversions, nurses help maintain the safety and efficacy of treatments. Administering the correct dosage ensures that the child receives the intended therapeutic effect without experiencing adverse effects due to improper dosing.
In summary, 7.5 mL converts to 1.5 teaspoons, which the nurse should administer to the toddler to effectively treat the otitis media with ampicillin.