A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride 20 mEq. The amount available is potassium chloride liquid 40 mEq/15 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

A) Limit intake of Vitamin C while taking this medication:
Vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron from ferrous gluconate. Therefore, consuming foods rich in Vitamin C (such as citrus fruits or juices) alongside iron supplements can improve iron absorption. This instruction is incorrect because Vitamin C intake should be encouraged rather than limited.

B) Take this medication with milk:
Taking ferrous gluconate with milk or other dairy products is not recommended because calcium in dairy can inhibit iron absorption. It's preferable to take iron supplements with water or juice to maximize absorption.

C) Take this medication between meals:
Taking ferrous gluconate between meals enhances its absorption because the presence of food can reduce the absorption of iron. Taking it on an empty stomach (about 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after meals) is optimal for absorption.

D) Limit intake of whole grains while taking this medication:
Whole grains contain phytates that can inhibit iron absorption. Therefore, it is beneficial to avoid consuming whole grains at the same time as iron supplements. However, this instruction does not address the timing of medication intake, which is crucial for optimal absorption.

We can calculate the volume of potassium chloride solution to administer using the following steps:

Identify the prescribed dose: The nurse needs to administer 20 mEq of potassium chloride.

Identify the concentration of available solution: The potassium chloride liquid is available in a concentration of 40 mEq/15 mL. This means there are 40 milliequivalents (mEq) of potassium chloride in every 15 milliliters (mL) of the solution.

Set up a proportion to find the volume needed:

Desired dose (mEq) : Volume to administer (mL) = Concentration (mEq/mL)

Plug in the values:

20 mEq : Volume to administer (mL) = 40 mEq/15 mL

Solve for the volume:

To isolate the volume (mL), multiply both sides of the proportion by the volume unit (mL) and divide by the dose (mEq).

Volume to administer (mL) = (20 mEq) x (mL) / (40 mEq/15 mL)

We can simplify the calculation before dividing:

Volume to administer (mL) = (20 mEq x 15 mL) / 40 mEq

Volume to administer (mL) = 300 mL / 40 mEq

Volume to administer (mL) = 7.5 mL (round to one decimal place)

Therefore, the nurse should administer 7.5 mL of the potassium chloride solution.