Question

The nurse is preparing to give fentanyl 0.075 mg IM to a client who is scheduled for a colonoscopy. The medication is labeled 50 mcg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer?

A) 0.075 mL
B) 1.5 mL
C) 1.0 mL
D) 0.15 mL

Answer 1

The nurse needs to convert a 0.075 mg dose of fentanyl to mcg, which is 75 mcg, and then calculate the volume based on the 50 mcg/mL concentration, resulting in 1.5 mL to be administered.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves the conversion of medication dosage units from micrograms (mcg) to milligrams (mg) and then calculating the volume to administer in milliliters (mL). The medication fentanyl has a concentration of 50 mcg/mL and the nurse needs to administer a 0.075 mg dose. First, we convert the ordered dose to micrograms because the medication concentration is given in micrograms.

1 mg = 1000 mcg

So, 0.075 mg x 1000 mcg/mg = 75 mcg.

Next, we use the concentration of the medication to find the volume:

Volume (mL) = Dose (mcg) / Concentration (mcg/mL)

Volume (mL) = 75 mcg / 50 mcg/mL

Volume (mL) = 1.5 mL.

Therefore, the nurse should administer 1.5 mL of fentanyl for the client's colonoscopy.