A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide 40 mg IV. Available is furosemide 10 mg/1 mL. How many ml should the nurse administer per dose?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To determine how many milliliters (mL) of furosemide 10 mg/mL solution are needed to administer a dose of 40 mg, follow these steps:
1. Identify the available concentration:
The furosemide solution available is 10 mg/mL.
2. Determine the prescribed dose:
The prescribed dose is 40 mg.
3. Calculate the required volume:
To find out how many milliliters are needed, use the formula:
[ \text{Volume (mL)} = \frac{\text{Desired Dose (mg)}}{\text{Concentration (mg/mL)}} ]
Substitute the values into the formula:
[ \text{Volume (mL)} = \frac{40 \text{ mg}}{10 \text{ mg/mL}} ]
[ \text{Volume (mL)} = 4 \text{ mL} ]
So, the nurse should administer 4 mL of the furosemide solution.
Explanation:
When administering medications, it is essential to convert the prescribed dose into the volume of medication required from the available concentration. Furosemide is a diuretic commonly used to treat conditions like heart failure, hypertension, and edema. In this scenario, the concentration of the furosemide solution is given as 10 mg/mL, which means each milliliter of the solution contains 10 mg of the drug.
To administer a dose of 40 mg, we need to calculate how many milliliters of the solution will provide the required 40 mg dose. This is done by dividing the total dose by the concentration of the solution.
This method ensures that the patient receives the correct amount of medication. Accurate calculations are crucial to avoid underdosing or overdosing, which can lead to ineffective treatment or adverse effects. This principle is applied in various clinical settings to ensure patient safety and therapeutic efficacy.