Nursing school dosage calculations help?

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Hi everyone!!

I recently got accepted to nursing school (yay!), and we have dosage calculation homework before the first day of class.

So I made it through the first half no problem. However, upon reading the second half I'm not sure how to obtain the correct answers?

Can someone walk me through the steps so I can learn to do it? Thanks!!

"Order: amoxicillin 150 mg po q8h for an infant weighting 23lbs

on hand: amoxicillin 250 mg per mL

manufacterer recommendations for an infant are amoxicillin 20-40 mg/kg a day.

What is the child's weight ?

What is the max dose for 24 hours?

what is the range for the dose based on the manufacture?

is this a safe dose ?

ANSWERS: child's weight= 10.45 kg , max dose 418 mg/day , divided dose range 69.67-139.33 mg per dose, no it is not safe. "

The only answer i obtained that was correct was the childs weight, I don't understand how to get the max dose or the range ?

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So, based on the manufacturer's recommendations, the child can have a maximum of 40mg/kg/day, yes? So, your max dose for 24 hours would be:

10.45 (kg) * 40mg (highest amount allowed in 24 hours) = 418.18mg/day

The range is worked out the same way: child's weight x recommended mg.

Low end: 10.45 * 20mg = 209 mg

High end: 10.45 * 40mg = 418.18 mg

Doc ordered 150mg Q8 hours. So, that's 450mg/day, which is outside the recommended range.

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So, based on the manufacturer's recommendations, the child can have a maximum of 40mg/kg/day, yes? So, your max dose for 24 hours would be:

10.45 (kg) * 40mg (highest amount allowed in 24 hours) = 418.18mg/day

The range is worked out the same way: child's weight x recommended mg.

Low end: 10.45 * 20mg = 209 mg

High end: 10.45 * 40mg = 418.18 mg

Doc ordered 150mg Q8 hours. So, that's 450mg/day, which is outside the recommended range.

THANK YOU! This helps immensely. 🤗

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THANK YOU! This helps immensely. í ¾í´—

You're welcome! This kind of math can be tricky, but I promise it gets to the point where it's second nature. Keep plugging away and you'll be fine!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I moved your post to nursing student assistance forum to ensure maximum responses. :)

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.

PM me if you need additional help.[ATTACH=CONFIG]24678[/ATTACH]

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

It is difficult at first weeding out the unnecessary information. These are actually simple algebraic equations.

You need to know 1) What do you need to give 2) what you have on hand

Some people set problems up as dimensional analysis. I prefer the set equations.

Dimensional analysis: http://www.davesems.com/files/drug_dose_calculations.pdf

Formula base: DosageHelp.com - Helping Nursing Students Learn Dosage Calculations

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