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The healthcare provider prescribes penicillin G benzathine 1,800,000 units intramuscular (IM) for a client with a bacterial infection. The prefilled syringe is labeled, "Penicillin G benzathine 1,200,000 units/2 mL." How many mL should the nurse administer to this client? (Enter numerical value only, rounded to the nearest whole number.)
Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is ["3"]

Concentration of penicillin G benzathine: 1,200,000 units/2 mL (given on the syringe label)

Prescribed dose: 1,800,000 units

We need to find the volume (in mL) that delivers the prescribed dose (1,800,000 units) considering the available concentration.

Dosage calculation:

To administer the prescribed dose, we need to find the volume that contains at least 1,800,000 units.

Since the available concentration is 1,200,000 units/2 mL, one prefilled syringe provides 1,200,000 units.

We can calculate the number of syringes needed to deliver the prescribed dose:

Number of syringes = Prescribed dose (units) / Concentration per syringe (units)

Number of syringes = 1,800,000 units / 1,200,000 units/syringe

Number of syringes = 1.5 (round up to 2 since a partial dose wouldn't be sufficient)

2 mL per syringe x 2 syringes = 4 mL

However, the prefilled syringes likely come in whole-number doses. Checking the available options:

A single prefilled syringe provides 1,200,000 units (which is not enough).

Two prefilled syringes would provide a total of 2,400,000 units (more than enough).

Therefore, to ensure at least the prescribed dose is administered, the nurse should administer 3 mL. 

This is achieved by using one and a half (rounded up to two) prefilled syringes.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is ["120"]

Explanation

Here's how to calculate the rate (mL/hour) for the infusion pump to deliver lidocaine 4 mg/minute:

1. Lidocaine concentration:

The medication bag contains 1 gram of lidocaine in 500 mL of dextrose 5% in water.

Convert grams to milligrams: 1 gram = 1000 milligrams

Lidocaine concentration (mg/mL) = Total lidocaine (mg) / Volume (mL)

Lidocaine concentration (mg/mL) = 1000 mg / 500 mL

Lidocaine concentration (mg/mL) = 2 mg/mL (round to nearest whole number)

2. Prescribed lidocaine dose: 4 mg/minute (given)

3. We need to find the volume delivered per hour (mL/hour) to achieve the prescribed lidocaine dose (4 mg/minute) considering the concentration (2 mg/mL) in the bag.

Infusion rate (mL/hour) = Dose (mg/minute) x Minutes per hour / Concentration (mg/mL)

However, there's a mismatch in units between dose (mg/minute) and concentration (mg/mL).

To address this, we can convert the infusion duration (minutes) to hours to match the concentration units (mg/mL).

Conversion factor: 60 minutes/hour

Infusion rate (mL/hour) = Dose (mg/minute) x (60 minutes/hour) / Concentration (mg/mL)

Infusion rate (mL/hour) = 4 mg/minute * 60 minutes/hour / 2 mg/mL

Infusion rate (mL/hour) = 120 mL/hour (round to nearest whole number)

Therefore, the nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver approximately 120 mL/hour.

Correct Answer is ["0.25"]

Explanation

Here's how to calculate the volume the nurse should administer after reconstituting the medication:

Reconstitution:

The medication vial is labeled "0.3 mg with 1.2 mL of sterile water." This means adding 1.2 mL of diluent will result in a total volume of 1.2 mL solution.

Important Note:

The concentration of the medication after reconstitution is not explicitly provided on the label.

We cannot directly calculate the volume to administer based solely on the prescribed dose (0.0625 mg) and the unknown concentration.

Scenario:

In real-world practice, nurses rely on the medication information sheet or the manufacturer's label for dilution instructions and the final concentration after reconstitution.

This information is crucial for calculating the accurate volume to administer the prescribed dose.

Assuming the medication information sheet specifies:

After reconstitution with 1.2 mL diluent, the final concentration is 0.25 mg/mL.

Calculation (based on the assumed concentration):

Prescribed dose: 0.0625 mg

Volume to administer (mL) = Dose (mg) / Concentration (mg/mL)

Volume to administer (mL) = 0.0625 mg / 0.25 mg/mL

Volume to administer (mL) = 0.25 mL (round to nearest hundredth)

Therefore, based on the assumed concentration after reconstitution (0.25 mg/mL), the nurse should administer 0.25 mL to the client.

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