Question

The nurse is preparing to administer 30 mEq of liquid potassium chloride (KCl) to an adult client. The label on the medication bottle reads 40 mEq of KCl per 15 mL. The nurse should prepare how many milliliters of KCl to administer the correct dose of medication?

Answer 1

The nurse should prepare 11.25 mL of potassium chloride to administer the prescribed 30 mEq dose, using the proportion based on the medication's concentration of 40 mEq per 15 mL.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking how to calculate the volume of a liquid medication required to deliver a specific dose. The nurse needs to administer 30 mEq of potassium chloride. The medication is available at a concentration of 40 mEq per 15 mL. To find the correct volume to administer, we use a simple proportion based on the known concentration: (40 mEq / 15 mL) = (30 mEq / X mL). Solving for X gives us (15 mL * 30 mEq) / 40 mEq = 11.25 mL. Thus, the nurse should prepare 11.25 mL of KCl to administer the correct dose.