Question

The patient is to receive amoxicillin 500mg q8h; the medication is dispensed at 250 mg/5mL. How many teaspoons would the nurse administer per day (24 hours)? (Provide your answer to the nearest whole number. Only type in number, do not include tsps.)

Please show me the best easiest way to solve this.

Answer 1

Note:

1. q8h means 500mg of amoxicillin medicine every 8 hour.

2. 250mg/5mL means, when reconstituted, every 5 ml of oral suspension contains amoxicillin equivalent to 250 mg amoxicillin (50 mg per ml).

Working:

Assuming that medicine is to be administered every 8 hours. Therefore, in 24 hours the nurse has to administer the medicine 3 times.

Hence, total amoxicillin medicine to be administered = 500mg*3times= 1500mg

As the medicine is dispensed at the rate of 250mg/5mL i.e. 50mg per mL.

Hence, 1500mg implies 30mL oral suspension contains amoxicillin equivalent to 1500mg amoxicillin.

[= 1500mg/50mg per mL = 30mL]

Assuming 1 teaspoon = 5ml i.e. 250mg of amoxicillin. Hence the nurse will administer 2 teaspoon every 8 hour (total 500mg/10mL.)

And total number of teaspoon to be given in a day is 2 teaspoon for 500mg of amoxicillin for time *3 times = 6 teaspoon