In: Nursing
A child weighing 11 lb is ordered phenytoin 15 mg po every 12 hours. The recommended dosage is 4 to 8 mg/kg/day The medication is to be given in divided doses every 12 hours. The drug is supplied as phenytoin oral suspension 125 mg/5 mL.
Answer the following questions.
What is the child's weight in kg?
What is the recommended daily dosage range for this child?
According to the instructions, what would be the recommended individual dosage range for this child?
Is the ordered dose safe for this child?
If it is, how much will the nurse administer?
1.To calculate the child weight in kg,use the equation as follows:
Mass in kilograms(kg) is equal to mass in pounds(lb) multiply by 0.454
Mass in pounds (lb)=11
Hence, Mass in kg = 11*0.454
= 4.994
Therefore,child weight in kg=4.994kg
2.To convert the daily dosage range ,simply multiply the weight in kg by the dose given in mg/kg/day.
As, recommended dose given has a range,so we convert both the high and low recommended (desired)dosage .
Recommended dosage given=4to 8mg/kg/day
Low recommended daily dosage =4.994kg*4mg/kg/day
=19.97mg/day
=20mg/day(approx)
High recommended daily dosage=4.994*8mg/kg/day
=39.95mg/day
=40mg/day(approx)
Hence, recommended daily dosage range for the child is approximately 20to 40mg/day.
3. Individual dosage range for this child =weight of child multiply by daily dosage range(high or low)
=4.994*20=99.88mg=100mg (approx)
Or, 4.994*40=199.76mg=200mg(approx)
Therefore, individual dosage range for this child is 100 to 200mg.
4.Medication is ordered every 12 hours.
There are 24 hours in a day.
Hence,24 divide by 12=2times per day doctor has ordered medication.
15mg of phenytoin is to be given every 12hours.
15*2times=30mg of phenytoin ordered per day
Ordered medication is within the desired range calculated abovei.e.,20to 40mg/day.
Therefore,the dose ordered is safe.
Administer dose= ordered dose/dose in liquid form
Dose in liquid form is equal to 125mg/5ml
Dose perr ml =125/5=25mg/ml
Hence,administer dose=30mg divided by25mg/ml
=30/25=1.2ml
Nurse must administer 1.2ml