Final answer:
The patient's furosemide dose exceeds the safe daily maximum, so it isn't safe to administer as ordered. IV solutions like 0.5% KCl and normal saline are used in emergencies for hypokalemia and dehydration respectively, and the height of an IV bag is set based on gravitational force and patient's blood pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
IV Dosage Calculation for Furosemide
When calculating the IV dosage for furosemide, we consider the patient's body weight and the maximum allowable daily dose. A patient weighing 27.5 kg with an order for furosemide at 0.5 mg/kg every 8 hours would receive a single dose of 13.75 mg (27.5 kg x 0.5 mg/kg = 13.75 mg). Three doses per day would sum up to 41.25 mg, slightly exceeding the maximum daily dose of 40 mg. Therefore, it would not be safe to administer the ordered dosage without adjustments.
In a hospital emergency room setting, when preparing an IV solution like 0.5% KCl for a patient with hypokalemia, medical personnel would indeed retrieve the IV bag with the precise concentration, if available. In cases where dehydration is the concern, normal saline solution is often administered intravenously. The specifics of preparing such an IV solution involve calculating the required mass of solute, such as sodium chloride, to achieve the desired concentration.
The height placement of an IV bag is crucial for proper infusion based on the principle of gravitational force, the density of the administered fluid, and the patient's blood pressure. Accurate height positioning ensures that the fluid enters the vein with the intended flow rate.