The nurse receives a prescription for ciprofloxacin 400 mg intravenously (IV) every 12 hours to be infused over an hour. The IV bag contains ciprofloxacin 400 mg in dextrose 5% in water (D5W) 200 mL. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Enter numerical value only.)

Choice A reason: Assessing for orthostatic hypotension before administering the dose is not necessary, as labetalol does not cause orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is a condition where the blood pressure drops significantly when changing positions from lying to sitting or standing. Labetalol is a beta-blocker that lowers blood pressure by reducing the heart rate and cardiac output.

Choice B reason: Administering the dose and monitoring the client's B/P regularly is not appropriate, as labetalol may cause further bradycardia (slow heart rate) in this client. The client's heart rate is already below normal (48 beats/minute), which may indicate that labetalol is overdosed or contraindicated. Bradycardia can lead to decreased perfusion, dizziness, fatigue, and fainting.

Choice C reason: Applying a telemetry monitor before administering the dose is not sufficient, as labetalol may cause serious cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms) in this client. The client's heart rate is already below normal (48 beats/minute), which may indicate that labetalol is affecting the electrical conduction system of the heart. Arrhythmias can cause palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, and cardiac arrest.

Choice D reason: Withholding the scheduled dose and notifying the healthcare provider is the best action for the nurse to take in this situation. The client's heart rate is already below normal (48 beats/minute), which may indicate that labetalol is causing adverse effects or interactions with other medications. The healthcare provider should be informed of the client's vital signs and medication history, and decide whether to adjust or discontinue labetalol.

To find out how many mL of dalteparin are needed for 2500 units, we need to use a proportion formula:

- (units of dalteparin)/(mL of dalteparin) = (units of dalteparin prescribed)/(mL of dalteparin needed)

- We can plug in the values that we know into the formula:

- (5000 units)/(0.2 mL) = (2500 units)/(x mL)

- We can cross-multiply and solve for x:

- 5000x = 2500 x 0.2

- x = (2500 x 0.2)/5000

- x = 0.1

- Therefore, the nurse should administer 0.1 mL of dalteparin to deliver 2500 units of the medication.