ATI Dosage Calculations RN Nursing Care of Children 3.1 questions with detailed answers (graded A+)

ATI Dosage Calculations RN Nursing
Care of Children 3.1 questions with
detailed answers (graded A+)


Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen oral
suspension 10 mg/kg PO to a toddler who weighs 22 lb.
Available is acetaminophen oral suspension 160 mg/5 mL.
How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 2.5 mL
B) 3.1 mL
C) 5.0 mL
D) 6.2 mL
VERIFIED ANSWER: B) 3.1 mL
EXPLANATION: First, convert the child's weight from lb to kg: 22
lb ÷ 2.2 = 10 kg. Next, calculate the desired dose in mg: 10 kg ×
10 mg/kg = 100 mg. Finally, calculate the volume to administer
using the available concentration: (100 mg ÷ 160 mg) × 5 mL =
3.125 mL. Rounding to the nearest tenth yields 3.1 mL.


Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer a 0.9% sodium chloride 500
mL IV bolus to an adolescent over 4 hr. The nurse should set
the infusion pump to deliver how many mL/hr?
A) 125 mL/hr

,B) 150 mL/hr
C) 200 mL/hr
D) 250 mL/hr
VERIFIED ANSWER: A) 125 mL/hr
EXPLANATION: To find the hourly infusion rate for an IV pump,
divide the total volume by the total hours: 500 mL ÷ 4 hr = 125
mL/hr. Electronic infusion pumps must be programmed to the
whole integer when delivering standard crystalloid volumes.


Question 3
A nurse is reviewing a prescription for amoxicillin PO for an
infant who weighs 11 lb. The prescription states amoxicillin
125 mg PO every 8 hr. The safe dosage range is 20 to 40
mg/kg/day divided in equal doses every 8 hr. Which action
should the nurse take?
A) Administer the dose as prescribed
B) Contact the provider to clarify an overdose
C) Contact the provider to clarify an underdose
D) Administer half of the prescribed dose
VERIFIED ANSWER: B) Contact the provider to clarify an
overdose
EXPLANATION: Convert weight to kg: 11 lb ÷ 2.2 = 5 kg.
Calculate the safe daily limits: Minimum safe daily dose = 5 kg ×
20 mg/kg/day = 100 mg/day; Maximum safe daily dose = 5 kg ×
40 mg/kg/day = 200 mg/day. The total daily dose prescribed is
125 mg × 3 doses = 375 mg/day. Since 375 mg/day exceeds the

,maximum safe limits of 200 mg/day, the nurse must hold the
drug and notify the provider.


Question 4
A nurse is preparing to administer ampicillin 250 mg IV bolus
to a school-age child. Available is ampicillin powder for
injection in a 500 mg vial. The instructions state to
reconstitute with 4.8 mL of sterile water to yield a final
concentration of 100 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer?
A) 1.2 mL
B) 2.4 mL
C) 2.5 mL
D) 5.0 mL
VERIFIED ANSWER: C) 2.5 mL
EXPLANATION: Use the formula: Desired Dose ÷ Available
Concentration × Volume. The desired dose is 250 mg, and the
post-reconstitution concentration is 100 mg/mL. Perform the
calculation: 250 mg ÷ 100 mg/mL = 2.5 mL.


Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer a maintenance IV fluid of
D5 0.45% sodium chloride to a child who weighs 16 kg. Using
the standard 4-2-1 pediatric maintenance rule, what is the
hourly IV maintenance rate?
A) 48 mL/hr
B) 52 mL/hr

, C) 56 mL/hr
D) 64 mL/hr
VERIFIED ANSWER: B) 52 mL/hr
EXPLANATION: The 4-2-1 pediatric maintenance rule calculates
fluid delivery per hour: Allocate 4 mL/hr for each of the first 10
kg of body weight (10 kg × 4 mL = 40 mL/hr). Allocate 2 mL/hr
for each kg between 11 and 20 kg (6 kg × 2 mL = 12 mL/hr).
Combine the steps: 40 mL/hr + 12 mL/hr = 52 mL/hr.


Question 6
A nurse is preparing to administer ibuprofen 100 mg PO to a
child who weighs 26.4 lb. Available is ibuprofen suspension
100 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 2.5 mL
B) 5.0 mL
C) 7.5 mL
D) 10.0 mL
VERIFIED ANSWER: B) 5.0 mL
EXPLANATION: Weight is given as 26.4 lb (12 kg), but the
prescription specifies a flat dose of 100 mg. Calculate the
required volume directly using the available stock
concentration: (100 mg desired ÷ 100 mg available) × 5 mL = 5
mL.


Question 7