Question

a nurse is preparing to administer loratadine 10 mg po daily to an adult. the amount available is loratadine syrup 5 mg/5 ml. how many ml should the nurse administer per dose? (round the answer to the nearest tenth/whole number. use a leading zero if it applies. do not use a trailing zero.)

Explanation:

Step1: Identify the formula for dosage calculation

The formula for calculating the volume of medication to administer is \(\text{Volume} = \frac{\text{Desired Dose}}{\text{Dose per Volume}} \times \text{Volume per Dose}\). Here, the desired dose is \(10\space mg\), the dose per volume is \(5\space mg\) per \(5\space mL\) (so the concentration is \(\frac{5\space mg}{5\space mL}=1\space mg/mL\), but we can also use the given ratio directly).

Step2: Substitute the values into the formula

We know that the available syrup is \(5\space mg\) in \(5\space mL\), so for a desired dose of \(10\space mg\), we can set up a proportion: \(\frac{5\space mg}{5\space mL}=\frac{10\space mg}{x\space mL}\). Cross - multiplying gives us \(5\times x = 10\times5\).
Or we can use the formula \(\text{Volume}=\frac{\text{Desired}}{\text{Available}}\times\text{Volume of Available}\). Here, \(\text{Desired} = 10\space mg\), \(\text{Available (dose)}=5\space mg\), and \(\text{Volume of Available}=5\space mL\).
So \(\text{Volume}=\frac{10\space mg}{5\space mg}\times5\space mL\).
First, calculate \(\frac{10}{5}=2\), then \(2\times5 = 10\space mL\).

Answer:

\(10\)