Final answer:
To administer the required dose of 500 mg from the available cephalexin suspension (250mg/5 mL), a nurse should give 10 mL of the suspension per dose, calculated via a simple proportion.
Step-by-step explanation:
A student needs to calculate the correct amount of a medicine to administer. A nurse is preparing to administer cephalexin 500 mg PO every 6 hr. The available medication is in a suspension form, specifically cephalexin suspension 250mg/5 mL. To find out how many milliliters should be given per dose, we can set up a proportion because the dosage required and the concentration of the drug available are known.
The dosage needed is 500 mg, and the suspension provides 250 mg in every 5 mL. Setting up a direct proportion, we can solve for the unknown amount (x mL) that provides the required 500 mg:
250 mg / 5 mL = 500 mg / x mL
Cross-multiplying to solve for x gives us:
250 mg × x mL = 500 mg × 5 mL
x = (500 mg × 5 mL) / 250 mg
x = 2500 mL / 250 mg
x = 10 mL
So, the nurse should administer 10 mL per dose to deliver the 500 mg required of cephalexin.