The nurse is to administer digoxin to an 18-month-old patient who weighs 16.5 lb.Guidelines for administration read as follows: 0.0075 to 0.010 mg/kg/day.Which is a safe medication dosage?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To calculate the safe medication dosage, we need to convert the weight of the patient from pounds to kilograms. 
16.5 lb = 7.5 kg

Then we can calculate the safe medication dosage range: 
0.0075 mg/kg/day x 7.5 kg = 0.05625 mg/day 
0.010 mg/kg/day x 7.5 kg = 0.075 mg/day

Therefore, the safe medication dosage range for this patient is between 0.05625 mg/day and 0.075 mg/day.

Option A (0.05 mg) is lower than the safe medication dosage range. 
Option B (0.12 mg) is higher than the safe medication dosage range. 
Option C (0.074 mg) is within the safe medication dosage range. 
Option D (0.75 mg) is much higher than the safe medication dosage range.

Therefore, the best choice is C.

The Nurse Is to Administer Digoxin to an 18-Month-Old Patient