Question

A patient has an IV of 0.9% Sodium Chloride infusing at 150 ml/hour. The patient weighs 160.6 pounds. How many milligrams/kilograms (mg/kg) of sodium choride will the patient receive in your 12-hour shift? Round to the nearest whole number.

The physician orders Solumedrol 55 mg/m² IVP. The patient weighs 140 pounds and has a body surface area of 1.9 m². The medication is provided in 5 ml vial with a strength of 25 mg/ml. What volume of medication will you administer? Round to the nearest tenth.

The patient is to receive an analgesic elixir that contains gr ¼ morphine per 5 ml. How many milligrams (mg) of morphine would be contained in 4 ml of the elixir?

The physician orders, "Metbur Suspension, 50 mg, orally, twice daily." The label states, "Metbur Suspension 1:500." What volume (ml) will the nurse administer?

Answer 1

Q1) 222 mg/kg

Weight of the patient = 160.6 lbs = 72.84 kg.

Rate of 0.9% Normal saline infusion = 150 ml/hour

Step 1 : Total volume of 0.9 % Normal saline infused in 12 hour period = 150 12 =1800 ml = 1.8 litres.

Step 2 : 1 litre of 0.9% Normal saline contains 9 grams of Sodium Chloride.

Therefore ,1.8 litres of 0.9% Normal saline contains : 1.8 9 = 16.2 grams i.e., 16200 mg of  Sodium Chloride.

The patient receives a total of 16.2 g of Sodium Chloride during the 12 hour shift.

Step 3 : Weight of the patient = 72.84 kg.

Therefore, the amount of Sodium Chloride received in mg/kg = 16200 / 72.84 = 222.4 mg/kg

i.e., 222 mg/kg (approx).

Q2) 4.2 ml

Weight of the patient = 140 lbs = 63.50 kg

Body surface area (BSA) =1.9 m²

Prescribed dose = 55 mg/m²

Step 1: Required dose based on BSA of the patient = 55   1.9 = 104.5 mg.

Step 2 : The strength of the medication is 25 mg/ml.

25 mg of the drug is present in 1ml of the solution .

1 mg of the drug is present in (1/25 )ml of the solution.

Therefore,104.5 mg of the drug is present in (1/25)   104.5 = 4.18 ml of the solution.

i.e., 4.2 ml (approx)

The patient should be administered 4.2 ml of the medication.

Q3) 4 ml of the elixir will contain 12 mg of Morphine.

60 mg = 1 gr  

1/4 gr = 15 mg

The elixir contains gr ¼ morphine per 5 ml ; i.e ., 15 mg of morphine in 5 ml.

i.e., 1 ml contains 3 mg of morphine.

Therefore, 4 ml of the elixir will contain : 3 4 = 12 mg of Morphine.

Q4) 0.1 ml

1: 500 suspension means 1 ml contains 500 mg of the drug.

The prescribed dose = 50 mg twice daily.

500 mg of the drug is present in 1 ml of the suspension .

Therefore ,50 mg of the drug is present in 0.1 ml of the suspension .

The patient needs to be given 0.1 ml of the suspension orally twice daily.