Hatfield: Introductory Maternity And Pediatric Nursing #31 Study Guide Rated A+

The nurse is preparing to administer an oral dose of antibiotics to a 10-year-old child who weighs 70 lb (31.75 kg). The prescription reads cephalexin 500 mg orally every 6 hours. The pediatric drug book dosing reads 25 to 100 mg/kg/day in 2 to 4 divided doses. What is the safe range per dose if administering every 6 hours for this client? {Ans: 199 to 794 mg per dose... Use the client's weight in kilograms. Calculate the low dose by multiplying 31.75 kg by 25 mg to equal 793.75 mg per day. This must be further divided by 4, the amount of times it is given in a 24-hour period (per day): 795 mg divided by 4 is 198.4, rounded up to 199 mg per dose. The high dose is calculated by multiplying 31.75 kg by 100 mg to equal 3,175 mg per day. This must be further divided by 4 because it is being given every 6 hours: 3,175 mg divided by 4 is 793.75, rounded up to 794 mg per dose.}The nursing student identifies which technique as the correct one to use when giving oral medications to an infant? {Ans: Use a dropper and slowly inject