Question

A nurse is preparing to administer 2 mg/kg/dose PO every 8 hr to an infant who weighs 12 lb. Available is furosemide oral solution 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?

Answer 1

To administer 2 mg/kg/dose furosemide to a 12 lb infant, the nurse should give 1.09 mL per dose. This is calculated by converting the infant's weight to kilograms, calculating the total dosage in milligrams, and dividing by the medication concentration.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the dosage of furosemide, we first need to convert the infant's weight from pounds to kilograms. There are 2.2 pounds in one kilogram, so 12 lb is approximately 5.45 kg (12 lb / 2.2 lb/kg). The dosage prescribed is 2 mg/kg/dose, which, for our patient, equals 10.9 mg/dose (5.45 kg * 2 mg/kg). Since the available medication concentration is 10 mg/mL, the nurse should administer 1.09 mL per dose (10.9 mg / 10 mg/mL).

In medical settings, accuracy in dosage calculations is crucial for patient safety. To ensure the safety and efficacy of drug administration, the precise dosage must be calculated based on the patient's weight and the concentration of the drug provided.

The nurse should administer 1.09 mL of furosemide oral solution per dose to the infant weighing 12 lb, given the provided concentration of the medication and the prescribed dosage of 2 mg/kg/dose.