Question

Calculate the volume necessary (in milliliters) to provide the dosage ordered, using medication labels where available. Express your answer as a decimal fraction to the nearest tenth where indicated. Order: Morphine \(15 \mathrm{mg}\) subcut q4h p.r.n. for pain. Available: Morphine labeled \(15 \mathrm{mg}\) per \(\mathrm{mL}\) _______.

Short answer

1.0 mL is needed.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Required Dosage

The ordered dosage of Morphine is given as 15 mg.

Determine the Dosage Available

From the medication labels, it is available in a concentration of 15 mg per 1 mL.

Calculate the Volume Needed

To find the volume necessary, use the ratio provided. Since the available solution is 15 mg in every 1 mL, you need the same volume of 1 mL to match the 15 mg ordered dosage.

Express the Volume as a Decimal

The calculated volume needed is 1 mL, which is already in the form of a decimal as **1.0 mL**.

Key concepts

Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the science that focuses on the study of drugs and their effects on living organisms. In this exercise, we are considering Morphine, an opioid medication often used to treat severe pain. Understanding pharmacology involves grasping how a drug interacts with the body to provide its effects, often called pharmacodynamics, and how the body handles the drug, known as pharmacokinetics.

When calculating medication dosages in pharmacology, it is crucial to identify both the desired effect and the correct amount needed to achieve this effect safely. Knowledge of the drug's potency and the appropriate dosage form is vital. For instance, Morphine's potency means precise calculation is essential to avoid under-dosing, which could result in unmanaged pain, or overdosing, which could lead to serious side effects like respiratory depression.

Pharmacology also requires an understanding of drug interactions, possible side effects, and the medication's therapeutic window, which is the range between the minimum effective dose and the dose that could cause toxicity. In the example of Morphine, health professionals must ensure the right balance is met to provide pain relief without adverse outcomes.

Medication Administration

Medication administration involves several key steps to ensure that the patient receives the drug safely and effectively. For Morphine, the route of administration indicated is subcutaneous, meaning it is injected just under the skin. This method is often chosen for medications that require slow absorption into the bloodstream.

Healthcare providers follow the "five rights" of medication administration to prevent errors. These are:

• Right patient
• Right medication
• Right dose
• Right route
• Right time

Ensuring these rights reduces the risk of medication errors, which can have serious consequences.

In the context of this exercise, the nurse must confirm that administering 1 mL of Morphine is correct, based on the concentration provided and the doctor's order. This process involves double-checking the medication label, confirming the patient's identity, and ensuring that administration happens as per the required frequency, in this case, every four hours as needed for pain.

Nursing Math

Nursing math involves the calculations necessary for accurately preparing and administering medications. It's a critical skill that enables nurses to determine the correct dosage based on the doctor's order. In this exercise, the calculation is straightforward due to the direct correlation between the ordered dose and the available concentration.

Here's how nurses approach such calculations:

• Identify the ordered dose: In this case, 15 mg of Morphine.
• Find the concentration: Here, it's 15 mg per 1 mL.
• Calculate the volume required by setting up a proportion based on the available concentration: Since 15 mg is available in 1 mL, an order for 15 mg will also require 1 mL.

Such calculations often require expressing the answer as a decimal, ensuring precision in the administration, even when more complex ratios are involved.

Practicing these math skills regularly is essential for nurses to maintain accuracy and efficiency in administering patient care. By mastering nursing math, nurses contribute to patient safety and effective treatment outcomes.