a nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride kaoncl

a nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride (kaon-cl) 5 meq/kg/day PO divided in equal doses every 6 hr to a child who weighs 64 lb. Available is potassium chloride liquid 40 meq/15 ml. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?

Solution

we know that 1 lb = 0.453592 Kg
then 64 lb = 64*0.453592= 29.0299 Kg

requirement is 5 meq/Kg/day
we found that weight is 29.0299 Kg
so requirement will be 5*29.0299 = 145.1495 meq/day

there are 24 hours in a day.
dose is to be given every 6 hour that is 24/6=4 times per day

so we divide 145.1495 meq/day by 4 to find the amount for single dose
so 1 dose requirement = 145.1495/4 = 36.287375 meq

potassium chloride liquid is available as 40 meq in 15 ml.
that is 1 meq in (15/40) ml

required ment of 1 dose is 36.287375 meq
so total ml needed = 36.287375*(15/40) ml = 13.607765625 ml

Hence final answer is 13.607765625 ml