Pediatric dose from pounds practice problems
Work each problem on paper first, rounding as the question says. Then open the answer to check it and see every step.
For study and exam practice, not for patient care. The orders in these problems are written for practice. In the clinic, follow the prescriber's order, your facility's protocols, and your pharmacy.
Problem 1
Order: amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day PO divided every 8 hours. The client is a 12-year-old who weighs 87 lb (1 kg = 2.2 lb). Round the client's weight to the nearest tenth before calculating the dose. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Record your answer using 2 decimal places.
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Answer: 526.67 mg
- kg = 87 ÷ 2.2 = 39.55 kg; round the weight to the nearest tenth as instructed: 39.5 kg.
- Daily dose = 40 mg/kg/day × 39.5 kg = 1,580 mg/day.
- Divided every 8 hours is 3 doses a day: 1,580 ÷ 3 = 526.6667 mg per dose.
- Round to the nearest hundredth: 526.67 mg.
Problem 2
A pediatric client with a bacterial infection is prescribed an oral antibiotic. Order: amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day PO divided every 8 hours. The client is a 3-month-old infant who weighs 15 lb (1 kg = 2.2 lb). Round the client's weight to the nearest tenth before calculating the dose. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Record your answer using 2 decimal places.
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Answer: 90.67 mg
- kg = 15 ÷ 2.2 = 6.82 kg; round the weight to the nearest tenth as instructed: 6.8 kg.
- Daily dose = 40 mg/kg/day × 6.8 kg = 272 mg/day.
- Divided every 8 hours is 3 doses a day: 272 ÷ 3 = 90.6667 mg per dose.
- Round to the nearest hundredth: 90.67 mg.
Problem 3
A pediatric client with a bacterial infection is receiving an antibiotic for a serious gram-negative infection. Order: gentamicin 7.5 mg/kg/day IM divided every 8 hours. The client is a 6-year-old who weighs 55 lb (1 kg = 2.2 lb). Round the client's weight to the nearest tenth before calculating the dose. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Record your answer using 1 decimal place.
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Answer: 62.5 mg
- kg = 55 ÷ 2.2 = 25 kg; round the weight to the nearest tenth as instructed: 25 kg.
- Daily dose = 7.5 mg/kg/day × 25 kg = 187.5 mg/day.
- Divided every 8 hours is 3 doses a day: 187.5 ÷ 3 = 62.5 mg per dose.
- 62.5 mg is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 4
The nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for gentamicin 6 mg/kg/day IM divided every 8 hours. The client is an 18-month-old toddler who weighs 22 lb (1 kg = 2.2 lb). Round the client's weight to the nearest tenth before calculating the dose. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Record your answer using a whole number.
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Answer: 20 mg
- kg = 22 ÷ 2.2 = 10 kg; round the weight to the nearest tenth as instructed: 10 kg.
- Daily dose = 6 mg/kg/day × 10 kg = 60 mg/day.
- Divided every 8 hours is 3 doses a day: 60 ÷ 3 = 20 mg per dose.
- 20 mg is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 5
A 12-year-old client with a serious gram-negative infection is prescribed the antibiotic for the infection. Order: gentamicin 7.5 mg/kg/day IM divided every 8 hours. The client weighs 95 lb (1 kg = 2.2 lb). Round the client's weight to the nearest tenth before calculating the dose. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Record your answer using a whole number.
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Answer: 108 mg
- kg = 95 ÷ 2.2 = 43.18 kg; round the weight to the nearest tenth as instructed: 43.2 kg.
- Daily dose = 7.5 mg/kg/day × 43.2 kg = 324 mg/day.
- Divided every 8 hours is 3 doses a day: 324 ÷ 3 = 108 mg per dose.
- 108 mg is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 6
Order: gentamicin 7.5 mg/kg/day IM divided every 8 hours. The client is a 9-month-old infant who weighs 19 lb (1 kg = 2.2 lb). Round the client's weight to the nearest tenth before calculating the dose. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Record your answer using 1 decimal place.
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Answer: 21.5 mg
- kg = 19 ÷ 2.2 = 8.64 kg; round the weight to the nearest tenth as instructed: 8.6 kg.
- Daily dose = 7.5 mg/kg/day × 8.6 kg = 64.5 mg/day.
- Divided every 8 hours is 3 doses a day: 64.5 ÷ 3 = 21.5 mg per dose.
- 21.5 mg is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 7
Order: gentamicin 6 mg/kg/day IM divided every 8 hours. The client is a 9-year-old who weighs 78 lb (1 kg = 2.2 lb). Round the client's weight to the nearest tenth before calculating the dose. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Record your answer using a whole number.
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Answer: 71 mg
- kg = 78 ÷ 2.2 = 35.45 kg; round the weight to the nearest tenth as instructed: 35.5 kg.
- Daily dose = 6 mg/kg/day × 35.5 kg = 213 mg/day.
- Divided every 8 hours is 3 doses a day: 213 ÷ 3 = 71 mg per dose.
- 71 mg is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 8
Order: gentamicin 7.5 mg/kg/day IM divided every 8 hours. The client is a 4-month-old infant who weighs 17 lb (1 kg = 2.2 lb). Round the client's weight to the nearest tenth before calculating the dose. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Record your answer using 2 decimal places.
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Answer: 19.25 mg
- kg = 17 ÷ 2.2 = 7.73 kg; round the weight to the nearest tenth as instructed: 7.7 kg.
- Daily dose = 7.5 mg/kg/day × 7.7 kg = 57.75 mg/day.
- Divided every 8 hours is 3 doses a day: 57.75 ÷ 3 = 19.25 mg per dose.
- 19.25 mg is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 9
A 3-year-old client with a bacterial infection is prescribed gentamicin 7.5 mg/kg/day IM divided every 8 hours. The client weighs 34 lb (1 kg = 2.2 lb). Round the client's weight to the nearest tenth before calculating the dose. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Record your answer using 2 decimal places.
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Answer: 38.75 mg
- kg = 34 ÷ 2.2 = 15.45 kg; round the weight to the nearest tenth as instructed: 15.5 kg.
- Daily dose = 7.5 mg/kg/day × 15.5 kg = 116.25 mg/day.
- Divided every 8 hours is 3 doses a day: 116.25 ÷ 3 = 38.75 mg per dose.
- 38.75 mg is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 10
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic commonly prescribed for children with acute otitis media. Order: amoxicillin 25 mg/kg/day PO divided every 12 hours. The client is a 4-year-old who weighs 44 lb (1 kg = 2.2 lb). Round the client's weight to the nearest tenth before calculating the dose. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Record your answer using a whole number.
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Answer: 250 mg
- kg = 44 ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg; round the weight to the nearest tenth as instructed: 20 kg.
- Daily dose = 25 mg/kg/day × 20 kg = 500 mg/day.
- Divided every 12 hours is 2 doses a day: 500 ÷ 2 = 250 mg per dose.
- 250 mg is exact, so no rounding is needed.
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