A nurse is preparing to administer meperidine 75 mg IM stat.
If the available meperidine injection is 100 mg/mL, how many mL should the nurse administer?
The correct answer and Explanation is :
To determine the volume of meperidine to administer, you need to calculate how many milliliters (mL) are required to achieve the desired dose.
Calculation:
- Identify the Desired Dose:
- The prescribed dose of meperidine is 75 mg.
- Identify the Concentration of the Solution:
- The available solution has a concentration of 100 mg/mL.
- Use the Formula:
- To find out how many milliliters you need to administer, use the formula:
[
\text{Volume} (mL) = \frac{\text{Desired Dose} (mg)}{\text{Concentration} (mg/mL)}
]
- Plug in the Values:
[
\text{Volume} = \frac{75 \text{ mg}}{100 \text{ mg/mL}} = 0.75 \text{ mL}
]
Explanation:
The calculation involves determining the volume of the medication required to deliver a specific dose based on the concentration of the medication available. In this scenario, meperidine is provided in a concentration of 100 mg/mL, which means each milliliter of this solution contains 100 mg of meperidine.
To administer 75 mg of meperidine, you divide the desired dose (75 mg) by the concentration (100 mg/mL). This calculation shows that 0.75 mL of the meperidine solution is needed to provide the required 75 mg dose.
It is crucial for nurses to accurately calculate medication doses to ensure patient safety and therapeutic efficacy. Errors in dose calculations can lead to underdosing or overdosing, both of which can have significant consequences for patient health. Accurate measurement and adherence to dosage instructions are essential for effective and safe medication administration.