63-274 Level 2 Lab Pediatric Calculation Practice Questions ANSWERS
1. Doctor’s order: Digitoxin elixir 0.048 mg po, qd for a 1-month-old infant weighing 9 pounds.
Recommended daily dose: 10 to 12 mcg/kg/day for a child under 2 years
Digitoxin elixir is available as 100 mcg / mL
a) Is the ordered individual dose safe?
Low: 10 mcg 9 lbs 1 kg 10 x 9 90 = 40.9 mcg/dose
kg/day 2.2 lbs 2.2 2.2
Recommended Weight Conversion
Dose
High: 12 mcg 9 lbs 1 kg 12 x 9 108 = 49.09 mcg/dose
kg/day 2.2 lbs 2.2 2.2
Recommended Weight Conversion
Dose
Doctor’s Order: 0.048 mg 1000 mcg 1 day = 48 mcg = 48 mcg/dose
day 1 mg dose dose
Ordered Conversion
Dose
Compare: Recommended Ordered dose Recommended
Low dose High Dose
40.9 mcg 48 mcg 49.1 mcg
Answer: The ordered dose fits within the recommended range therefore it is safe.
b) Is the ordered daily dose safe?
Answer: There is only one dose per day thus the ordered daily dose is the same as the ordered individual dose and it is safe.
c) How many mL will you administer to this child?
0.048 mg 1 mL 1000 mcg 0.048 x 1000 48 = 0.48 mL
dose 100 mcg 1 mg 100 100 dose
Ordered Available Conversion
Dose Drug
Answer: I will administer 0.48 mL of digitoxin elixir to this child.
Reference: Modified from Boston Reed College, Pharmacy Technician Training Program. Practice Problems - Dosage Calculations. Retrieved January 29, 2007 from: http://www.bostonreed.com/students/coursematerials/pharmtech/ptweek19.pdf BMcLaughlin Jan07
2. Doctor’s order: Versed 1 mg IM stat preoperatively for a child weighing 30.8 pounds. The recommended dosage of Versed is 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg per dose preoperatively.
Versed is available in 10 mg per mL vials.
a) Is the ordered individual dose safe?
Low: 0.05 mg 30.8 lbs 1 kg 0.05 x 30.8 1.54 = 0.7 mg/dose
kg/dose 2.2 lbs 2.2 2.2
Recommended Weight Conversion
Dose
High: 0.1 mg 30.8 lbs 1 kg 0.1 x 30.8 3.08 = 1.4 mg/dose
kg/dose 2.2 lbs 2.2 2.2
Recommended Weight Conversion
Dose
Compare: Recommended Ordered dose Recommended
Low dose High Dose
0.7 mg 1 mg 1.4 mg
Answer: The ordered dose fits within the recommended range therefore it is safe.
b) Is the ordered daily dose safe?
Answer: There is only one dose per day thus the ordered daily dose is the same as the ordered individual dose and it is safe.
c) How many mL will you administer to this child?
1 mg 1 mL 1 = 0.1 mL / dose
dose 10 mg 10
Ordered Available
Dose Drug
Answer: I will administer 0.1 mL of versed to this child.
Reference: Modified from Boston Reed College, Pharmacy Technician Training Program. Practice Problems - Dosage Calculations. Retrieved January 29, 2007 from: http://www.bostonreed.com/students/coursematerials/pharmtech/ptweek19.pdf BMcLaughlin Jan07
3. Doctor’s order: Fentanyl 0.025 mg IV preoperatively for a child weighing 26 pounds. The recommended dosage of fentanyl IV preoperatively is 1 to 2 mcg/kg/dose.
Fentanyl is available as 0.05 mg/mL.
d) Is the ordered individual dose safe?
Low: 1 mcg 26 lbs 1 kg 26 = 11.8 mcg/dose
kg/dose 2.2 lbs 2.2
Recommended Weight Conversion
Dose
High: 2 mcg 26 lbs 1 kg 2 x 26 52 = 23.6 mcg/dose
kg/dose 2.2 lbs 2.2 2.2
Recommended Weight Conversion
Dose
Doctor’s Order: 0.025 mg 1000 mcg 1 day 0.025 x 1000 = 25 mcg/dose
dose 1 mg dose
Ordered Conversion
Dose
Compare: Recommended Recommended Ordered
Low dose High Dose Dose
11.8 mcg 23.6 mcg 25 mcg
Answer: The ordered dose does not fit within the recommended range therefore it
Is not safe.
e) Is the ordered daily dose safe?
Answer: There is only one dose per day thus the ordered daily dose is the same as the ordered individual dose and it is not safe.
f) How many mL will you administer to this child?
Answer: Zero. I will clarify this dose of fentanyl with the doctor.
Reference: Modified from Boston Reed College, Pharmacy Technician Training Program. Practice Problems - Dosage Calculations. Retrieved January 29, 2007 from: http://www.bostonreed.com/students/coursematerials/pharmtech/ptweek19.pdf BMcLaughlin Jan07
4. Doctor’s order: Codeine 20 mg p.o. q3h p.r.n., pain for a child who weighs 88 pounds.
Recommended daily dose: 0.5 mg/kg/dose, not to exceed 6 doses per day.
Codeine liquid is available as 15 mg/mL.
a) Is the ordered individual dose safe?
Recommended: 0.5 mg 88 lbs 1 kg 0.5 x 88 44 = 20 mg/dose
kg/dose 2.2 lbs 2.2 2.2
Recommended Weight Conversion
Dose
Compare: Recommended Ordered
Dose Dose
20 mg 20 mg
Answer: The ordered dose is the same as the recommended individual dose, therefore it is safe.
b) Is the ordered daily dose safe?
24 hours 1 dose 24 = 8 doses
day q3h 3
Answer: The number of doses per day exceeds the recommended, thus it is not a safe daily dose.
c) How many mL will you administer to this child?
Answer: Zero, until I clarify the frequency of administration of this dose with the
doctor.
d) If the ordered frequency is every 4 hours, how many mL will you
administer?
20 mg 1 mL 20 4 = 1.3 mL
dose 15 mg 15 3
Ordered Available
Dose Drug
Answer: If the child has pain, I will administer 1.3mL of codeine.
Reference: Modified from Boston Reed College, Pharmacy Technician Training Program. Practice Problems - Dosage Calculations. Retrieved January 29, 2007 from: http://www.bostonreed.com/students/coursematerials/pharmtech/ptweek19.pdf BMcLaughlin Jan07