1. Which of the following are correct about drug doses based on a patient’s body surface
area (BSA)? Select all that apply.
Recommended doses based on BSA are common for pediatric doses and oncology
drugs.
BSA must be based on current height and weight measurements.
An individual’s BSA can be determined by use of a formula or a nomogram.
The West Nomogram should be used rather than the Nomogram for Children of Normal
Height for Weight for greatest accuracy.
There are two standard formulas for calculating BSA.
CORRECT
Recommended doses based on BSA are common for doses of pediatric and oncology drugs.
To be accurate, BSA must always be based on current height and weight measurements.
An individual’s BSA can be determined by use of one of the two standard BSA formulas (based
on metric and household measurements), or a nomogram (West Nomogram or Nomogram for
Children of Normal Height for Weight)
2. The nurse has an order for daunorubicin hydrochloride 80 mg IV on days 1, 2, and 3 of the
first course of chemotherapy for a 67-year-old patient with a BSA of 1.9 m 2. The following
package insert is available.
What is the BSA-based recommended dose for this patient? Is the ordered dose safe?
The BSA-based recommended dose for this patient is 57 mg. The ordered dose is not
safe.
The BSA-based recommended dose for this patient is 70 mg. The ordered dose is not safe.
, The BSA-based recommended dose for this patient is 80 mg. The ordered dose is safe.
The BSA-based recommended dose for this patient is 90 mg. The ordered dose is safe.
CORRECT
In verifying safe dose, the nurse determines that the individual BSA-based dose is 57 mg. The
ordered dose is 80 mg. The nurse should consult with the physician.
, 3. The nurse receives the following order for a 39-year-old patient with a BSA of 2.1 m 2 who
has non-Hodgkins’s lymphoma:
Bleomycin 2 units IV today and this Thursday. If no adverse reactions develop, give bleomycin 40
units IV weekly on Thursdays.
What is the BSA-based recommended weekly maintenance dosage range of bleomycin for this
patient? Is the ordered dose a safe dose?
area (BSA)? Select all that apply.
Recommended doses based on BSA are common for pediatric doses and oncology
drugs.
BSA must be based on current height and weight measurements.
An individual’s BSA can be determined by use of a formula or a nomogram.
The West Nomogram should be used rather than the Nomogram for Children of Normal
Height for Weight for greatest accuracy.
There are two standard formulas for calculating BSA.
CORRECT
Recommended doses based on BSA are common for doses of pediatric and oncology drugs.
To be accurate, BSA must always be based on current height and weight measurements.
An individual’s BSA can be determined by use of one of the two standard BSA formulas (based
on metric and household measurements), or a nomogram (West Nomogram or Nomogram for
Children of Normal Height for Weight)
2. The nurse has an order for daunorubicin hydrochloride 80 mg IV on days 1, 2, and 3 of the
first course of chemotherapy for a 67-year-old patient with a BSA of 1.9 m 2. The following
package insert is available.
What is the BSA-based recommended dose for this patient? Is the ordered dose safe?
The BSA-based recommended dose for this patient is 57 mg. The ordered dose is not
safe.
The BSA-based recommended dose for this patient is 70 mg. The ordered dose is not safe.
, The BSA-based recommended dose for this patient is 80 mg. The ordered dose is safe.
The BSA-based recommended dose for this patient is 90 mg. The ordered dose is safe.
CORRECT
In verifying safe dose, the nurse determines that the individual BSA-based dose is 57 mg. The
ordered dose is 80 mg. The nurse should consult with the physician.
, 3. The nurse receives the following order for a 39-year-old patient with a BSA of 2.1 m 2 who
has non-Hodgkins’s lymphoma:
Bleomycin 2 units IV today and this Thursday. If no adverse reactions develop, give bleomycin 40
units IV weekly on Thursdays.
What is the BSA-based recommended weekly maintenance dosage range of bleomycin for this
patient? Is the ordered dose a safe dose?
