Hi I am going into my second year of nursing which will be pediatrics and maternity. This is the first time I have posted something here although I always read everyone's responses and always find it very helpful so I thought I would give it a try myself. can someone please help me with a couple of dosage calculation problems my professor gave us to prepare for the first day exam? I have asked my professor for the same help but then just told me to read the questions so I am very confused now. below are the problems I could use some explanation on if anyone can help me.
I am still confused on when to round to the tenth place. This two dosage calc questions are similar, yet the answer are rounded differently. Can you please help me understand what I am doing wrong?
3. A physician's order states chloramphenicol 50 mg/kg/day I.V. in divided doses q 6 hours. The child weighs 17 kg.
Each dose would be mg.
3. 50 mg q 6h = 4 doses
x 17 kg
850 = 850 mg/day
850 = 212.5 mg/dose = 213 mg/dose (I left it as 212.5)
4
1. _302.2 mg_ The physician orders Augmentin (amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium)
oral suspension 35 mg/kg/day PO divided in three equal doses.
Patient's weight: 57 lbs
How many milligrams should be administered for one dose?
57 lbs = 25.9 kg 35 mg x 25.9 kg = 906.5 mg/day
906.5 = 302.2 mg/dose
3
On the following question I don't understand why the answer is 0.85mg/kg/day.
5. Yes The physician orders Paveral (codeine sulfate) elixir 3.3 mg po q 6 hrs for pain.
The drug guide recommended dosage is 0.5-1 mg/kg/day
Patient's weight: 34.1 lbs.
Is the physicians order safe?
34.1 lbs = 15.5 kg 3.3 mg x 4 doses = 13.2 mg/day
13.2 mg/day = 0.85 mg/kg/day
15.5 kg
Safe since 0.85 falls within range of 0.5 -1 mg/kg/day
The way I set-up that question is like this:
0.5mg/kg/day X 15.5kg = 7.75mg/day minimum/day
1mg/kg/day X 15.5kg = 15.5mg/day maximum/day
Then I multiply 3.3mg X 4 = 13.2mg/day. Since what the Doctor prescribed is within range I say that this is a safe dose. However my final answer is 13.2mg/day not 0.85mg/kg/day.
Then I proceeded to do the next test and I see the solution is set-up different. Can you please tell me what I am missing?
5. ____yes___ The physician orders Paveral (codeine sulfate) elixir 2.8 mg po q 6 hrs for pain.
The drug guide recommended dosage is 0.5-1 mg/kg/day
Patients weight: 34 lbs.
Is the physicians order safe?
34/2.2= 15.45454545454= 15.5 kg
0.5 x 15.5 = 7.75= 7.8 mg/day is the lower range
1 x 15.5= 15.5 mg/day is the higher range
Safe range is 7.8-15.5 mg/day
MD ordered 2.8 mg q 6 hrs = 2.8 x 4= 11.2 mg/day
11.2 falls in the safe range of 7.8-15.5= dose is safe