A child weighs 20 lb and is 30 inches tall. The dosage for the medication is 20 mg/m²/dose four times a day. How many milligrams of medication are administered per dose?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Use Figure 8-10 on page 334 of the textbook to determine the body surface area (BSA). Draw a straight line between the points representing the patient/client's height on the left vertical scale to the point representing the patient/client's weight on the right vertical scale. The point at which this line intersects the middle vertical scale represents the BSA in meters squared--in this case, 0.45 m². Calculate the dose to be administered. Multiply the medication order (20 mg/m²/dose) by the BSA (0.45 m²), which equals 9 mg that should be given for each dose.

A Child Weighs 20 Lb and Is 30 Inches Tall