Question

The drug book states that a therapeutic dose for a medication is 50–75 mg per kg of body weight per day. The child weighs 33 pounds and is to receive the med- ication 4 times a day. What would be the maximum amount of drug the child should receive per dose? Record your answer is a whole number carried out to two decimal places. _____ mg per dose Answer: 281.25 mg per dose; 33 pounds divided by 2.2 pounds per kilogram 15 (the child’s weight in kilograms); 15 times 75 1125 mg per day divided by 4 doses equals 281.25 mg.

Short answer

The maximum amount of drug the child should receive per dose is 281.25 mg.

Step-by-step solution

Convert Pounds to Kilograms

First, convert the child's weight from pounds to kilograms. Since 1 kilogram is equal to approximately 2.2 pounds, divide the child's weight in pounds by 2.2 to find the weight in kilograms.

Calculate the Maximum Daily Dose

Calculate the maximum therapeutic dose of the medication based on the child's weight in kilograms. To do this, multiply the weight of the child in kilograms by the maximum dose per kilogram (75 mg/kg).

Determine the Dose Per Administration

Since the medication is to be administered 4 times a day, divide the total maximum daily dose by 4 to calculate the maximum amount of drug the child should receive per dose.

Round the Dose to Two Decimal Places

Ensure that the calculated dose per administration is rounded to two decimal places, as required by the exercise.

Key concepts

Drug Dosage Calculation

Understanding drug dosage calculation is crucial for anyone in the healthcare field, especially for nurses who administer medications frequently. The core principle is to ensure the correct amount of medication is given in order to maximize therapeutic effects and minimize the risk of overdosage.

The steps to calculate drug dosages generally involve understanding a patient's specific needs, often predicated on body weight, age, and the drug's therapeutic window. In pediatric settings, this is particularly important, as children's dosages are often based on their weight to ensure safety and efficacy. The primary steps include converting body weight to the appropriate unit (usually kilograms), calculating the total daily dose by multiplying the per kilogram dosage by the patient's weight, and then dividing this total by the frequency of doses per day.

For example, if a medication's therapeutic dose is stated like '50–75 mg per kg of body weight per day' and you have a child weighing 33 pounds, you first convert the pounds to kilograms. Knowing that 1 kilogram is roughly equal to 2.2 pounds, you'd divide 33 by 2.2, obtaining the child's weight in kilograms. Multiplying this weight by the maximum dose per kilogram, and then dividing by the number of doses per day, gives you the dose per administration. This process underscores the importance of precision and attention to unit conversion to ensure safe pediatric medication administration.

Pediatric Medication Administration

When it comes to pediatric medication administration, the safe delivery of prescribed medications to infants, children, and adolescents, there are several factors to keep in mind. Children are not just small adults; their bodies process drugs differently, which must be accounted for in medication administration.

Variables like body surface area, absorption rates, metabolism, and excretion play a role in how a child responds to medication. Calculations based on weight are standard in pediatric dosing, ensuring each child receives a personalized dose. Administrating the correct dosage is vital, as children's organs are still developing and they may have a reduced ability to handle medications.

For example, the step-by-step solution outlined a process of calculating the maximum amount of medication a child should receive per dose, based on their body weight in kilograms. Dosage calculation also requires adherence to guidelines stated in formularies or drug manuals since these sources take pediatric patients' specific physiology into account. Caregivers must meticulously measure and often recheck calculations before administering medication to this vulnerable population.

Medical Math Conversion

Medical math conversion is a vital skill for nurses and healthcare professionals. It involves the ability to convert different units of measure, such as from pounds to kilograms or millilitres to ounces. This is essential as medication orders, and drug labels may vary in measurement units.

Mastery of medical math ensures safe practice in a clinical setting. Familiarity with the metric system, which is used internationally and is considered the standard in healthcare, is essential. Knowledge of conversion factors, like that 1 kilogram equals 2.2 pounds, is key.

This skill is not just about doing the math; it's about understanding the significance of precision in healthcare. Even a small miscalculation can lead to a significant error in drug administration, which can be particularly harmful in pediatric care where dosages are highly sensitive. Using medical math correctly is a profound responsibility in safeguarding patient health. Conversions require diligence, often involving a two-step process: convert the measurement to the appropriate unit and then use this new measurement to calculate the dosage per the medical directive. In practice, this could mean converting a child's weight from pounds to kilograms before calculating the drug dosage, as highlighted in the provided problem.