A nurse is preparing to administer 2.5 L of lactated Ringer’s to a client. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To convert 2.5 liters (L) of lactated Ringer’s solution to milliliters (mL), we need to use the following conversion factor:
1 liter (L) = 1,000 milliliters (mL)
Step-by-Step Calculation:
2.5 L×1,000 mL1 L=2,500 mL2.5 \, L \times \frac{1,000 \, mL}{1 \, L} = 2,500 \, mL2.5L×1L1,000mL=2,500mL
Thus, the nurse should administer 2,500 mL of lactated Ringer’s.
Explanation:
In clinical practice, accurate medication and fluid administration are crucial to ensure the patient’s safety and the effectiveness of treatment. The ability to convert units between liters and milliliters is a fundamental skill, as different measurements may be used depending on the medication or fluid volume.
In this case, the prescribed volume of lactated Ringer’s is given in liters (2.5 L). Lactated Ringer’s is a commonly used isotonic fluid that helps restore electrolytes and fluid balance, making it crucial to administer the correct amount. The standard conversion factor between liters and milliliters is essential for this calculation: 1 liter is equal to 1,000 milliliters.
By multiplying 2.5 liters by 1,000, we find that the total volume to be administered is 2,500 mL. Rounding is unnecessary because the calculation yields a whole number. No trailing zeros should be added, as this is a best practice in medication administration to avoid potential dosing errors. Similarly, a leading zero (such as writing 0.5 L instead of .5 L) is used when dealing with numbers less than 1, but it doesn’t apply here.
Accurately calculating and double-checking dosages and fluid volumes helps reduce errors, which is an essential part of nursing practice.