A nurse is preparing to administer methimazole 0.3 mg/kg/day PO divided in equal doses every 8 hours to a school-age child who weighs 55 kg

A nurse is preparing to administer methimazole 0.3 mg/kg/day PO divided in equal doses every 8 hours to a school-age child who weighs 55 kg. Available is methimazole 5 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose? (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 determine the number of methimazole tablets needed per dose for a school-age child, we need to follow these steps:

1. Calculate the Total Daily Dose:

• The child’s weight is 55 kg.
• The prescribed dosage is 0.3 mg/kg/day.
• Total daily dose = Weight × Dosage per kg
• Total daily dose = 55 kg × 0.3 mg/kg/day = 16.5 mg/day

1. Determine the Dose Per Administration:

• The total daily dose is divided into three equal doses (since the medication is administered every 8 hours).
• Dose per administration = Total daily dose / Number of doses per day
• Dose per administration = 16.5 mg / 3 = 5.5 mg

1. Calculate the Number of Tablets Per Dose:

• The available tablets are 5 mg each.
• To find out how many tablets are needed per dose, divide the dose per administration by the strength of one tablet.
• Number of tablets per dose = Dose per administration / Tablet strength
• Number of tablets per dose = 5.5 mg / 5 mg/tablet = 1.1 tablets

So, the nurse should administer 1.1 tablets per dose.

Explanation:

1. Calculation of Total Daily Dose:
   We start by determining the total amount of medication needed per day based on the child’s weight and the prescribed dosage. This is crucial for ensuring that the child receives the correct amount of medication over the course of a day.
2. Dividing the Dose:
   Since the medication is administered every 8 hours, we need to divide the total daily dose into three equal parts. This ensures that the medication levels remain consistent throughout the day, providing effective treatment while minimizing side effects.
3. Tablet Calculation:
   Finally, we calculate how many tablets are needed per dose. Since the tablets available are 5 mg each and the dose required is 5.5 mg, we need to give 1.1 tablets. This calculation is important for precision in dosing, especially when tablets do not correspond exactly to the required dose.

By rounding to the nearest tenth and ensuring accurate dosing, the nurse can effectively manage the medication regimen for the child.