Dosage calculation question

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Morning everyone!

I got this question wrong on a test, could someone tell me if I am losing it?

The drug label states that the usual dosage is 50-75 mcg/kg/day given in 2 divided doses. The client's weight is 43.8 kg.

What is the lower single dosage?

1095 mcg right? Am I losing it?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

If you use the exact weight 43.8 you are correct. If your program wanted you to round up you don't....

43.8kg x 50mcg = 1095

2 doses

if however they wanted you to round up

44kg x 50mcg = 1100

2 doses

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

We only round to the nearest tenth for weight, and that weight was provided, so I guess I will email the instructor. I just wanted to see if I was missing something before I made a fool out of myself. Thanks, Esme!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I don't see it that is the only answers that I see if that was the exact question.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

She fixed it. I was right. 92% woo hoo!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I thought what the heck????? I'm glad she made it right!

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Good job for not just rolling over and taking the points off. Too many times when I was in school people were too afraid to "fight" the question. I wasn't... there were a few times I gained 6 extra points on a test because I was not satisfied with the answer they gave us or the rationale. ;)

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Thanks! I posed it as a question, rather than saying "Hey this isn't wrong",

I said "I thought I was supposed to divide the daily dose by 2, no?"

It aggravates me, because I have a few professors who won't let us see our tests....I wonder how often that happens. :(

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Out of curiosity, with a weight based dosage, would you actually ever round up?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I would ask your school and see what they say so you don't miss any questions. In real practice yes. If it is a cardiac kid or a toxic drug I will run it past the MD and pharmacy. But the usual round up or down applies. The smaller the child/infant, the toxicity of the drug.... the more I check

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