Question

1. A nurse is preparing to administer diphenhydramine 12.5mg to a child who weighs 35.2 pounds. 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

After converting the child's weight to kilograms, the calculated safe range for each dose of diphenhydramine is 8-13 mg. The ordered dose of 12.5 mg is within this range and is safe to administer.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the safe range for each dose of diphenhydramine for the child who weighs 35.2 pounds (which is approximately 16 kg when converted from pounds), we first convert the child's weight into kilograms using the conversion factor 1 kg = 2.2 pounds.

35.2 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 16 kg (rounded to the nearest whole number)

Given the safe dosage range of 1.5mg-2.5mg/kg/day divided into three doses, we calculate the range per dose by dividing the total daily dose by three.

Lower limit per dose: 1.5 mg/kg × 16 kg ÷ 3 doses/day = 8 mg/dose

Upper limit per dose: 2.5 mg/kg × 16 kg ÷ 3 doses/day = 13.3 mg/dose, which rounds to 13 mg/dose

Therefore, the safe range for each dose is 8-13 mg. The ordered dose of 12.5mg is within this safe range and is therefore considered safe to administer.