Safe Range / Weight-Based Practice

Safe Range / Weight-Based Practice 1

1. The recommended dosage of Cephalexin to treat impetigo in infants, children, and adolescents is 25 to 50 mg/kg/day divided every 6 to 8 hours (with a maximum dose of 250 mg/dose) for at least seven days. A 23-pound child has been prescribed 100 mg PO q8h for seven days. The drug is available as 250 mg/5mL.

a. What is the recommended safe range in mg/dose for this child when dosed q8h?

b. Is the prescribed dosage within the recommended range for impetigo?

c. What is the range in mL/dose for this child?

d. How many mL/dose would the child receive for the prescribed dosage?

 

2. The recommended oral dosage of Amoxicillin to treat an ear infection is 80 to mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours. An infant weighing 18 pounds has been prescribed 350 mg q12h. The drug is available as 250 mg/5 mL.

a. What is the recommended range in mg/dose for this child?

b. Is the prescribed dosage within the recommended range?

c. What is the recommended range in mL/dose for this child?

d. How many mL/dose would the child receive for the prescribed dosage?

 

3. The recommended oral dosage for a medication is 5mg/kg/day divided into 3-4 doses when treating allergies in infants, children, and adolescents. A 46-pound-male child has been prescribed 25 mg PO q6h. The medication is available as an oral solution containing 12.5 mg/5mL.

a. Is this a safe dosage for this child?

b. How many mL/dose will this child receive?

 

4. A three-day regimen for Azithromycin is 10 mg/kg once daily for three days (Maximum: 500 mg/day). Azithromycin is available as 200 mg/5mL. How many mL will a child weighing 31 pounds receive each day?

 

5. The dosing guidelines for a medication for children who are <50 kg is 0.2 to 0.5 mg/kg/dose every 3 to 4 hours as needed, and for children 50 kg and over it is 15 to 20 mg every 3 to 4 hours as needed. The medication is available in 2mg/mL and 4 mg/mL.

a. What is the safe mg/dose range for a child weighing 23 kilograms?

b. What is the normal mL/dose range using the 2 mg/mL solution for a child weighing 23 pounds?

c. The physician ordered 2 mL/dose of the 4 mg/mL solution for a patient who weighs 17 kilograms. Is this dose within the safe guidelines?

d. The physician has ordered 3.9 mL of the 4 mg/mL solution for a child who weighs 14 kilograms. Is this dose within the safe guidelines?

 

6. The dosing guidelines for 1V Ampicillin is 100 to 150 mg/kg/day divided every six hours with a maximum daily dose of 4000 mg.

a. What is the safe mg/dose range for a 63-pound child?

b. What is the safe mg/day range for a 20-kilogram child?

c. The health care provider ordered 700 mg IV q6j for a 50-pound child. Is this dosage within the safe general dosing guidelines?

d. How many mg/kg/day will this child be receiving?

e. A 32-kilogram child has been prescribed a dosage of 140 mg/kg/day divided every six hours. Does this dosage fall within the safe dosing guidelines?

 

Answer key is located in the Appendix

Safe Range / Weight-Based Practice 2

1. Order: Prednisolone oral suspension 10 mg every eight hours. The child weighs 40 pounds. The safe dose range is 0.14-2 mg/kg/day divided t.i.d. (3x/day) or q.i.d. (4x/day).

Is this a safe dose?

If yes, and the medication is available in 5 mg/5 mL, how much will the nurse administer per dose in mL?

 

2. Order: Phenytoin 75 mg by mouth every 12 hours for a child weighing 66 pounds. On hand are Dilantin chewable 50 mg tablets. The recommended oral dose for a child is 5 to 7 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours.

Is this dose safe?

If yes, how many tabs would the nurse give?

 

3. Order: Phenytoin 50 mg every 12 hours for a child weighing 70 pounds. Available are Dilantin 30 mg/5 mL. The recommended daily oral dose for a child is 5-7 mg/kg/day in divided dosages every 12 hours.

Is this order safe?

If yes, how many mL would the nurse give?

 

4. Order: Nafcillin 600 mg in 50 mL D5W IVPB q6h. The pediatric patient with an infection weighs 30 pounds. The recommended dose of this medication is 50-200 mg/kg per day.

Is the dose safe for this child?

 

5. Order: Amoxicillin 75 mg PO every eight hours for a child weighing 33 pounds. The medication insert states that safe dosage is 6.7 mg to 13.3 mg/kg every eight hours.

Is this dose safe?

 

Answer key is located in the Appendix