Question

1. A nurse is now preparing to administer diphenhydramine 25mg to a child who weighs 25.2kg. The drug handbook states this medication is safe between 1.5mg-2.5mg/kg/day, divided in three doses. No more than 3 doses should be given in a 24 hour period.

What is this childs safe range for each dose? (round to the nearest whole number)
______-______mg
Is the dose the provider ordered safe or unsafe to administer?

Answer 1

For a child weighing 25.2kg, the safe range for each dose of diphenhydramine when divided into three doses a day is 13-21mg. The prescribed dose of 25mg exceeds the safe upper limit, rendering it unsafe to administer.

Step-by-step explanation:

When calculating the safe dosage range for a child per dose, we must first determine the total daily dose and then divide it by the number of doses per day. According to the drug handbook, the medication dosage of diphenhydramine is safe between 1.5mg to 2.5mg per kilogram of body weight per day. For a child weighing 25.2kg, the safe daily dose range is:

25.2kg × 1.5mg/kg = 37.8mg (rounded to the nearest whole number, 38mg)

25.2kg × 2.5mg/kg = 63mg (rounded to the nearest whole number, 63mg)

Dividing these totals by three, as the medication is to be given in three separated doses, the safe range per dose is:

38mg ÷ 3 = 12.7mg (rounded to the nearest whole number, 13mg)

63mg ÷ 3 = 21mg (The exact value is 21mg, no rounding needed)

Therefore, the child's safe range for each dose is 13-21mg. The ordered dose of 25mg is above this range, making it unsafe to administer at a single dose.