Nursing Dosage Math

TL;DR

This video discusses how to calculate medication doses for different dose frequencies in nursing, using examples and step-by-step calculations.

Transcript

good day and welcome to Tech math channel in this video I'm going to be looking at some more uh nursing calculations now with this particular video I'm uh interested in looking at some video uh some uh calculations where we're going to be looking at uh where doses are perscribed either you know to be given three or four times a day three times a da... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍⚕️ Understanding how to calculate medication doses is crucial for nurses to ensure accurate administration.
• 🖐️ Dose frequency plays a significant role in determining the single dose of a medication.
• 🏋️ Weight-based calculations are vital in many medication prescriptions.
• 🥳 Dividing the total dose by the number of doses per day helps calculate the appropriate single dose.
• 👨‍⚕️ Nurses need to consider the duration and frequency specified in medication prescriptions for accurate dosage calculations.
• ❓ Medication errors can occur when dose frequencies are misunderstood or not accounted for correctly.
• 🧑‍🏭 The weight of the patient is a crucial factor in determining medication dosage.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do you calculate the daily medication dose for a child weighing 23 kg given a prescription of 8 microG per kilogram per day every 12 hours?

To calculate the daily dose, multiply the weight (23 kg) by the prescribed dose (8 microG per kilogram). This results in 184 microG. Since the medication is given every 12 hours, divide the total dose by two to determine the single dose, which equals 92 microG.

Q: A child weighing 18.5 kg is prescribed sodium velate at a dosage of 10 mg per kilogram per day, split into three doses. How do you calculate the single dose?

Multiply the weight (18.5 kg) by the prescribed dose (10 mg per kilogram) to get a total of 185 mg. Since the medication is already divided into three doses, divide the total dose by three, resulting in a single dose of 61.67 mg.

Q: For a 75 kg patient, if the medication is prescribed at 6 mg per kilogram per day, every 4 hours, how do you calculate the amount for each dose?

Multiply the weight (75 kg) by the prescribed dose (6 mg per kilogram) to obtain a total of 450 mg for the day. Since the prescription mentions the frequency but not the number of doses, divide the total dose by the number of 4-hour intervals in a day, which is six doses. Each dose should be 75 mg.

Q: How do you determine the single dose for a child weighing 18.5 kg prescribed 30 mg per kilogram per day, every 6 hours?

Multiply the weight (18.5 kg) by the prescribed dose (30 mg per kilogram) to calculate the daily dose of 555 mg. As the medication is given every 6 hours, divide the total dose by the number of doses in a day, which is four. The single dose should be 138.5 mg.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video explains how to calculate medication doses for a specific duration, with dosage instructions given either three or four times a day or every few hours.

• Various examples are provided, such as calculating the medication dose for a child weighing 23 kg prescribed a specific medication every 12 hours.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the frequency of medication administration and adjusting the dose accordingly.