A primary healthcare provider prescribes 0.02 mg/kg tid glycopyrolate to a child with chronic severe drooling. A nurse finds that the child weighs 44 lb. Upon seeing the drug label, the nurse finds that 5 mL of medication contains 1 mg of drug.
What should the nurse do to provide safe medication to the child?
A.
Administer 2 mL of medication to the child
B.
Administer 1 tsp of medication to the child
C.
Administer 0.8 mg of medication to the child
D.
Administer 1 cup of medication to the child
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
To determine the correct dosage of glycopyrrolate for the child, follow these steps:
Calculation
- Convert the child’s weight from pounds to kilograms:
- Weight in pounds: 44 lb
- Conversion factor: 1 lb = 0.4536 kg
- Weight in kg = 44 lb × 0.4536 kg/lb = 19.9584 kg (approximately 20 kg for simplicity)
- Calculate the total dosage in milligrams (mg) based on the prescribed dose:
- Prescribed dose: 0.02 mg/kg
- Total dosage = 0.02 mg/kg × 20 kg = 0.4 mg
- Determine how many milliliters (mL) of medication are needed to administer 0.4 mg:
- The medication label states that 5 mL contains 1 mg of glycopyrrolate.
- To find out how many mL are needed for 0.4 mg, use the proportion:
- Volume needed=Desired Dose×Volume per mg\text{Volume needed} = \text{Desired Dose} \times \text{Volume per mg}Volume needed=Desired Dose×Volume per mg
- Volume needed = 0.4 mg × 5 mL/mg = 2 mL
Answer
A. Administer 2 mL of medication to the child
Explanation
The correct dose for the child is 0.4 mg of glycopyrrolate. Given that 5 mL of the medication contains 1 mg, you need to determine how much volume corresponds to 0.4 mg. By setting up a proportion based on the concentration (1 mg per 5 mL), you find that 0.4 mg will be contained in 2 mL of the medication.
Here’s how it works:
- For every 1 mg of medication, 5 mL is required.
- To find the amount needed for 0.4 mg, you set up the equation: Volume (mL)=Desired Dose (mg)×Volume per mg (mL)=0.4 mg×5 mL/mg=2 mL\text{Volume (mL)} = \text{Desired Dose (mg)} \times \text{Volume per mg (mL)} = 0.4 \, \text{mg} \times 5 \, \text{mL/mg} = 2 \, \text{mL}Volume (mL)=Desired Dose (mg)×Volume per mg (mL)=0.4mg×5mL/mg=2mL
This ensures that the child receives the correct amount of medication as prescribed.