Ceclor oral suspension 375 mg g. 8h, is ordered for a patient on discharge. The pharmacy gives the patient Ceclor 125 mg/5 ml oral suspension. How many teaspoons will the nurse instruct the patient to take per dose? Record numbers only.
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
To determine how many teaspoons the nurse should instruct the patient to take per dose of Ceclor oral suspension, we start by analyzing the medication order and the formulation provided by the pharmacy.
1. Understanding the Order: The doctor has ordered Ceclor oral suspension at a dose of 375 mg every 8 hours.
2. Formulation Provided: The pharmacy provides Ceclor in a concentration of 125 mg per 5 mL.
3. Calculate the Volume Needed for Each Dose: To find out how many milliliters are needed for the 375 mg dose, we can set up a proportion based on the concentration:125 mg5 mL=375 mgx mL\frac{125 \, \text{mg}}{5 \, \text{mL}} = \frac{375 \, \text{mg}}{x \, \text{mL}}5mL125mg=xmL375mg
Cross-multiplying gives:125⋅x=375⋅5125 \cdot x = 375 \cdot 5125⋅x=375⋅5
Calculating the right side:125x=1875125x = 1875125x=1875
Now, divide by 125 to solve for xxx:x=1875125=15 mLx = \frac{1875}{125} = 15 \, \text{mL}x=1251875=15mL
4. Convert mL to Teaspoons: Next, we convert the volume from milliliters to teaspoons. The conversion factor is:
1 teaspoon = 5 mL.
To convert 15 mL to teaspoons:Teaspoons=15 mL5 mL/teaspoon=3 teaspoons\text{Teaspoons} = \frac{15 \, \text{mL}}{5 \, \text{mL/teaspoon}} = 3 \, \text{teaspoons}Teaspoons=5mL/teaspoon15mL=3teaspoons
5. Conclusion: The nurse should instruct the patient to take 3 teaspoons of Ceclor oral suspension per dose, which corresponds to the ordered 375 mg every 8 hours. This calculation ensures that the patient receives the correct dosage as prescribed. The importance of understanding medication dosages and conversions is crucial in nursing to prevent medication errors and ensure patient safety.