Calculating Safe Dose Ranges & ml/hr

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Specializes in Med surg, Public Health, School Nursing.

Hello everyone!

Before I get too far into this homework I want to make sure I'm doing these calculations right. :) We just started doing Peds calculations and so far I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. Hahaha. Here is one of the questions:

1. Weight: 20 kg

Dx. abscess/MRSA

Order: Vancomycin 120mg/12 ml IV q6

Recommended Dose range- 10-15 mg/kg/dose

Rate to administer- Over 2 hours

A. What is the safe dose range? Is the order safe?

B. What is the rate to administer?

Here's what I have so far.

A. 20 kg X 10 mg/kg/dose= 200 mg/dose

Since it's every 6 hours that's 4 times a day so 800 mg/day

20 kg X 15 mg/kg/dose= 300 mg/dose so 1200 mg/day

120 mg x 4= 480

So, it's safe, but not in the therapeutic range?

B. 12ml / 2 hours (120 min) X 60 min/1 hr = 6 ml/hr

Is that right? If not, how do you do it and what did you get? Thanks in advance!

Calculations look good to me. Therapeutic range is in question since the minimum dosage is 200mg and 120mg is ordered...

Correct calculations, but the doses are not safe because any of the undesired side effects will be present, but will not benefit the pt. That is how I was taught, so ask your instructors of that's what they are looking for.

Specializes in Med surg, Public Health, School Nursing.

Awesome! Thanks guys. Now I can finish the rest of my homework! ;)

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