1. A patient is prescribed 0.25 mg of digoxin orally once daily. How many tablets should you give? (Stock = digoxin 250 microgram tablets) 2. A patient is prescribed insulin 22 uni... 1. A patient is prescribed 0.25 mg of digoxin orally once daily. How many tablets should you give? (Stock = digoxin 250 microgram tablets) 2. A patient is prescribed insulin 22 units subcutaneously. How many mLs should you give? (Stock = 10 mL vial of 100 units in 1 mL) 3. You draw up 10 mL of 2 % lidocaine in a syringe. How many mg of lidocaine is there in 10 mL?
Understand the Problem
This question involves three separate dosage calculation problems commonly encountered in a healthcare setting. Each part requires converting units and applying the given concentrations to determine the correct amount of medication to administer. The first part involves converting milligrams to micrograms to determine the number of digoxin tablets needed. The second part involves calculating the volume of insulin to administer in mLs based on the units prescribed and the stock concentration. The third part involves calculating the amount of lidocaine in mg based on the given concentration and volume.
Answer
a) 2 tablets b) 0.24 mL c) 8 mg
Answer for screen readers
a) 2 tablets b) 0.24 mL c) 8 mg
Steps to Solve
- Convert milligrams to micrograms
We want to convert 0.125 mg to micrograms using the conversion factor 1 mg = 1000 mcg
$$0.125 \text{ mg} \times \frac{1000 \text{ mcg}}{1 \text{ mg}} = 125 \text{ mcg}$$
- Calculate the number of tablets
Divide the required dose (125 mcg) by the dose per tablet (62.5 mcg/tablet).
$$\frac{125 \text{ mcg}}{62.5 \text{ mcg/tablet}} = 2 \text{ tablets}$$
- Calculate the volume of insulin to administer
Divide the required dose (24 units) by the concentration (100 units/mL).
$$\frac{24 \text{ units}}{100 \text{ units/mL}} = 0.24 \text{ mL}$$
- Calculate the amount of lidocaine in mg
Multiply the volume (4 mL) by the concentration (2 mg/mL).
$$4 \text{ mL} \times 2 \text{ mg/mL} = 8 \text{ mg}$$
a) 2 tablets b) 0.24 mL c) 8 mg
More Information
Dosage calculations are a critical skill for healthcare professionals to ensure patient safety and accurate medication administration.
Tips
- Incorrect unit conversions: Failing to convert between milligrams and micrograms correctly. Always double-check your conversion factors.
- Misunderstanding concentration: Not interpreting the concentration correctly (e.g., confusing units/mL with mg/mL).
- Wrong calculation: Dividing when you should multiply, or vice versa. Always think about whether the answer makes logical sense in the context of the problem.
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