Med calculation - HELP!!!

2bRnKim · Jun 26, 2008

I have had a complete brain melt - can someone please show me the correct way to calculate this?
I am to give a pt Nubain which comes in a vial 20mg/ml.
The pt weighs 16kg and the peds dosage is 0.2mg/kg
What would the correct dosage be?

The child weighs 16kg and the dosage is to give 0.2mg/ kg right?

So, 16kg

X 0.2mg/kg

3.20 mg for this child

On hand: 20mg vial

Does this make since?

Kim

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2008

i am to give a pt nubain which comes in a vial 20mg/ml.

the pt weighs 16kg and the peds dosage is 0.2mg/kg

dose desired

: 0.2 mg/kg

patient weight

: 16 kg

dose on hand

: 20 mg/ml

i work by dimensional analysis, or factor label method, and using the formula

dose desired divided by dose on hand to get the dose to give

to create an equation of fractions that is multiplied together. you want to end up with a final numerical answer that has the label of "

ml

" in the numerator. that is going to happen through the canceling out of the labels on these fractions during the multiplication of the equation that i create specifically to do this manipulation. the arithmetic just falls into place assuming you classified your "dose desired" and "dose on hand" correctly from the information you were given.

0.2 mg/kg

(dose desired)

x ml/20 mg

(dose on hand)

x 16 kg/1

(patient's weight)

=

0.16 ml

(dose to give)

bsugar888 · Jun 27, 2008

Thanks I will need this for next semester.

nrsman1 · Jun 27, 2008

dont you need to know the childs bsa and adult dosage.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2008

dont you need to know the childs bsa and adult dosage.

Why? Are they needed for the calculation? The problem tells you that the dose is 0.2 mg/kg. The only information you need is the patient's weight. If you were given the child's BSA and the adult dosage how are you going to solve this?