Medication Calculation – Safe Dosage Check

NURS 2700

Medication Calculation
In paediatric practice, medication dosages are calculated based on the child’s weight making the
dosages much more precise. It is important that you know the child’s most recent weight in kilograms so
that drug dosage calculations are accurate.

Dosage Calculation
Dosages may be calculated based on:
 Milligrams/kg (e.g., Lasix)
 Micrograms/kg (e.g., Fentanyl)
 Units/kg (e.g., Heparin)
 Body surface are (BSA)
Medication Calculation (milligrams/kg – mg/kg)
Jack weighs 20 kg and has been ordered Ampicillin 500 mg IV q 6hr.

Step 1: Validating ordered dose to make sure it is within the therapeutic range:
*The recommended dose of Ampicillin is 100-200mg/kg/day divided q6hr, and the nurse must ensure
that the dose prescribed is within therapeutic range by calculating the minimum and maximum dosages.

Calculating Minimum and Maximum Dose for Ampicillin

Minimum Dose Maximum Dose

100mg x 20kg = 2000mg/kg/day divided q6hr 200 mg x 20kg = 4000mg/kg/day divided q6hr
500 mg per Dose 1000 mg per Dose

This child would receive 20kg x 100 mg/kg/day = 2000 mg/day divided into four doses (24 hours divided by
6 hours) or 500 mg/dose. Therefore, the prescribed dose is within the therapeutic range.
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Kelvin has been admitted to your unit and is febrile. He has Tylenol ordered – 115 mg PO every 4 hours as
needed for pain and fever. Kelvin weighs 25 lbs. The standard safe range for Tylenol is 10-15 mg/kg/dose.
At is the minimum dose? What is the maximum dose? Is this order within the therapeutic safe range? Show
your work.

Kelvin’s dose is within the therapeutic safe range because he was prescribed 115mg PO q4hrs as needed.

10mg x 11.3kg = 150mg minimum/ dose

15mg x 11.3 kg = 169.5mg maximum/ dose

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 Therapeutic Dosage Calculations
Jocelyn is ordered IV Cefazolin. She weighs 22 lbs. The safe dose of Cefazolin is 50-100 mg/kg/day IV in
equal doses q 8 hrs. What is the lowest daily amount she can safely receive?

50mg x 10kg = 500mg

500mg / 3 doses a day

= 167mg minimum she can safely receive

Lauren is a 1-year-old child with otitis media (ear infection). She weighs 22 lbs. Calculate the dose of
amoxicillin suspension in mLs. The dose required is 40 mg/kg/day divided BID and the suspension comes
in a concentration of 400 mg/5 mL.

10kg x 40mg = 400mg/2 = 200mg BID

200mg/400mg x 5ml = 2.5 mL

Marcus is a 5-yr-old admitted to your unit for meningitis. He weighs 18 kg. Calculate the dose of ceftriaxone
in mLs. The dose required is 100 mg/kg/day given IV once daily and the drug comes prediluted in a
concentration of 40 mg/mL.

100mg x 18kg =1800mg/ day

1800mg/40mg x 1ml = 180mL

Jacob is in the emergency department with a 2 day history of nausea and vomiting due to cancer
chemotherapy. He is prescribed Zofran (ondasetron – an antiemetic) 2 mg. He weighs 13.4 kg. The safe
dosage of this drug is 0.15 mg/kg. Show your calculations to determine if this is a safe dose.

Yes, this is a safe dose. 13.4kg x 0.15mg = 2mg

Joanne has been prescribed Zithromax for strep throat. She weighs 82 lbs. The safe dose range for this
medication is 10-12 mg/kg/day. What is the maximum safe daily dose for this child?

12mg x 37kg = 444mg/ day maximum safe daily dose

Avery is ordered Cefazolin 350 mg IV every 4 hours. She weighs 31 lbs. The safe dosage range for this
medication is 25-75 mg/kg/day. Calculate the minimum and maximum dosages to determine if this is a safe
dose for Avery.

14kg x 25mg = 350mg minimum

This study source was downloaded by 100000837933148 from CourseHero.com on 09-29-2022 18:44:27 GMT -05:00

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 14kg x 75mg = 1050mg maximum

24hr/4 =6
6 x 350mg = 2100mg This is NOT a safe dose for Avery

This study source was downloaded by 100000837933148 from CourseHero.com on 09-29-2022 18:44:27 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/115542496/Medication-Calculation-Worksheet-Disclosure-of-a-No-Harm-Incidentdocx/
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