Question

A nurse is preparing to administer epoetin alfa 50 units/ kg subcutaneous to a preschooler who weights 40 lb. Available is epoetin alfa 2,000 units/mL. How much mL should the nurse administer?( Round the answer to the nearest hundredth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Answer 1

Given,

A nurse is preparing to administer epoetin alfa 50 units/ kg subcutaneous to a preschooler who weights 40 lb.

Dose of epoetin alfa = 50 units/Kg

Weight of preschooler = 40 lb

Now, 1 lb = 0.454 Kg

or, 40 lb = 0.454 × 40 kg

= 18.16 kg

Hence, weight of preschooler (in kg) = 18.16 Kg

Now, overall dose for the preschooler = administered dose × weight of the preschooler

= 50 units/kg × 18.16 kg

= 908 units

Available is epoetin alfa 2,000 units/mL.

Using unitary method:-

2000 units present in 1 ml

1 unit present in = 1/2000 ml

908 unit present in =( 1/2000) ×908 ml

= 0.454 ml

= 0.45 ml [ rounded to nearest hundredth]

Therefore, 0.45 mL should the nurse administer.