Question

a nurse is preparing to administer valproic acid 45 mg/kg/day po divided in equal doses every 8 hr to a child who weighs 66 lb. available is valproic acid oral solution 250 mg/5 ml. how many ml should the nurse administer per dose? (round the answer to the nearest whole number. use a leading zero if it applies. do not use a trailing zero.)

Explanation:

Step1: Convert weight to kg

$66\ \text{lb} \times \frac{1\ \text{kg}}{2.2\ \text{lb}} = 30\ \text{kg}$

Step2: Calculate daily dose

$45\ \text{mg/kg/day} \times 30\ \text{kg} = 1350\ \text{mg/day}$

Step3: Find dose per 8hr

$\frac{1350\ \text{mg/day}}{3} = 450\ \text{mg/dose}$

Step4: Calculate mL per dose

$450\ \text{mg} \times \frac{5\ \text{mL}}{250\ \text{mg}} = 9\ \text{mL}$

Answer:

9