Please Help:Dosage calculations/Clark's rule

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Here is the problem. Did I do it right:

The adult dose of a medication is 30 mg. The child's weight is 30 lbs. What is the correct dose?

30/150 = 1/5

1/5 x 30 mg = 6 mg

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Your answer is correct. The formula for Clark's Rule is:

Weight of the child in pounds/150 ("normal" adult weight) X the usual adult dose = the "safe pediatric dose". So, when you plug in your numbers (30 mg adult does & 30 lb child) the answer is 6 mg.

Clark's Rule is not used clinically but it is a favorite dosage calculation formula for pediatric nursing instructors.

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