Final answer:
To administer the correct dose of aminophylline, convert the child's weight to kilograms, calculate the dosage required per minute, then convert that dosage to a volume based on the drug's concentration. For a child weighing 44 pounds, the infusion pump is set to deliver 0.3 mL per minute.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the volume of aminophylline to set on the infusion pump, we need to convert the child's weight from pounds to kilograms, calculate the dosage based on the weight, and finally convert that dosage into a volume based on the concentration of the aminophylline bag.
- Convert weight: 44 lbs = 20 kg (1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds, so 44 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg)
- Calculate dosage in mcg/min: 15 mcg/kg/min × 20 kg = 300 mcg/min
- The aminophylline bag contains 500 mg of aminophylline in 500 mL, which is a 1 mg/mL concentration. First convert 300 mcg/min to mg/min: 300 mcg/min = 0.3 mg/min
- Now calculate the volume in mL based on the concentration: If 1 mg is in 1 mL, then 0.3 mg will be in 0.3 mL.
Therefore, you will set the infusion pump to deliver 0.3 mL of the aminophylline solution per minute to provide a dose of 15 mcg/kg/min for a child weighing 44 pounds.