Final answer:
The pediatric dosages are calculated by first converting the weights into kilograms and then multiplying by the prescribed dosage per kilogram. The first baby's dose is 283.6 mg, the toddler's dose is 6.1 mg, and the newborn's dose is 0.9 mg.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the correct dosages for pediatric patients, it is vital to convert the body weight into the correct units and then apply the prescribed weight-based dosage. Below are the calculation examples:
- 40 mg/kg for a baby who weighs 15.6 pounds. First, we convert pounds to kilograms, since there are 2.2 pounds in a kilogram: 15.6 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 7.09kg (rounded to the nearest 100th). Then, we calculate the dose: 7.09kg × 40mg/kg = 283.6mg. To the nearest tenth, this is 283.6 mg per dose.
- The dose is 0.5 mg/kg for a toddler who weighs 27 pounds. Again, we convert to kilograms: 27 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 12.27kg (rounded to the nearest 100th). Then, the dose is: 12.27kg × 0.5mg/kg = 6.135mg. To the nearest tenth, this is 6.1 mg per dose.
- For a newborn weighing 3687 g, the dose is 0.25 mg/kg. We need to convert grams to kilograms, where 1000 grams is equivalent to 1 kilogram, so we have 3687g ÷ 1000g/kg = 3.687kg. The dose would then be: 3.687kg × 0.25mg/kg = 0.92175mg, which to the nearest tenth is 0.9 mg per dose.
Understanding the importance of unit conversions is crucial in the medical field, as a mistake in dosage due to incorrect units can be extremely dangerous.