A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen 15 mg/kg via intermittent IV bolus to a client who weighs 99 lb. The amount available is acetaminophen 1,000 mg/100 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
The correct answer and Explanation is :
To determine the correct amount of acetaminophen to administer, follow these steps:
- Convert the client’s weight from pounds to kilograms: The client weighs 99 lb. To convert pounds to kilograms, use the conversion factor: 1 lb = 0.453592 kg. [
\text{Weight in kg} = 99 \, \text{lb} \times 0.453592 \, \text{kg/lb}
] [
\text{Weight in kg} \approx 44.91 \, \text{kg}
] - Calculate the required dose in milligrams: The prescribed dose is 15 mg/kg. Multiply the client’s weight in kg by the dosage: [
\text{Dose in mg} = 15 \, \text{mg/kg} \times 44.91 \, \text{kg}
] [
\text{Dose in mg} \approx 673.65 \, \text{mg}
] - Determine the volume of acetaminophen solution to administer: The available solution is 1,000 mg of acetaminophen in 100 mL. To find out how many mL are needed for 673.65 mg, use a proportion: [
\text{Volume (mL)} = \frac{\text{Desired Dose (mg)} \times \text{Volume Available (mL)}}{\text{Amount Available (mg)}}
] [
\text{Volume (mL)} = \frac{673.65 \, \text{mg} \times 100 \, \text{mL}}{1,000 \, \text{mg}}
] [
\text{Volume (mL)} = 67.365 \, \text{mL}
] Rounding to the nearest whole number: [
\text{Volume (mL)} \approx 67 \, \text{mL}
]
Summary:
The nurse should administer 67 mL of the acetaminophen solution. This calculation ensures the client receives the correct dose based on their weight and the concentration of the medication available. Accurate dosing is crucial to ensure therapeutic effectiveness and avoid potential overdose or underdose, which can impact patient outcomes.