A nurse is preparing to administer metoprolol 5 mg IV bolus to a client for heart rate control. Available is metoprolol injection 1 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administerperdose?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To determine how many milliliters (mL) of metoprolol the nurse should administer per dose, follow these steps:
- Identify the dose prescribed: The doctor has ordered 5 mg of metoprolol.
- Identify the concentration available: The available concentration is 1 mg/mL, meaning each milliliter of the solution contains 1 mg of metoprolol.
- Use the formula:
[
\text{Volume to administer (mL)} = \frac{\text{Dose ordered (mg)}}{\text{Concentration available (mg/mL)}}
]
In this case:
[
\text{Volume to administer (mL)} = \frac{5 \, \text{mg}}{1 \, \text{mg/mL}} = 5 \, \text{mL}
]
Thus, the nurse should administer 5 mL of the metoprolol solution.
Explanation:
Metoprolol is a beta-blocker often used to control heart rate, especially in conditions like atrial fibrillation or tachycardia, where the heart rate becomes abnormally high. Administering the right dose is crucial to ensure the medication effectively reduces heart rate without causing adverse effects like excessive bradycardia (slow heart rate) or hypotension (low blood pressure).
The dosage calculation here involves a simple ratio and proportion method, commonly used in nursing for medication administration. The concentration of the drug provided tells the nurse how much of the drug is present in each milliliter of the solution. Since the available concentration is 1 mg/mL, it means that for every milliliter administered, the patient receives 1 mg of metoprolol. If the doctor has ordered a 5 mg dose, the nurse can calculate that 5 mg will be delivered by administering 5 mL of the solution.
Accurate drug calculations are essential in nursing to ensure patient safety and effective treatment outcomes. Incorrect dosages can lead to complications, either from underdosing (where the medication is not effective) or overdosing (which can cause severe side effects). Therefore, confirming calculations is a standard practice before administering medications.