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
kg/day
2.2 lbs
2.2
Recommended Weight Conversion
Dose
High:
12 mcg 9 lbs
1 kg
kg/day
2.2 lbs
Recommended Weight Conversion
Dose
12 x 9
2.2
Doctor’s Order: 0.048 mg 1000 mcg 1 day
day
1 mg
dose
Ordered Conversion
Dose
Compare:
Recommended
Low dose
40.9 mcg
Ordered dose
48 mcg
90
2.2
= 40.9 mcg/dose
108
2.2
= 49.09 mcg/dose
= 48 mcg = 48 mcg/dose
dose
Recommended
High Dose
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
dose
Ordered
Dose
1 mL
100 mcg
Available
Drug
1000 mcg
1 mg
Conversion
0.048 x 1000
100
48 =
100
0.48 mL
dose
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
kg/dose
Recommended
Dose
High:
0.1 mg
kg/dose
Recommended
Dose
Compare:
30.8 lbs
Weight
30.8 lbs
Weight
Recommended
Low dose
0.7 mg
1 kg
0.05 x 30.8
2.2 lbs
2.2
Conversion
1.54 = 0.7 mg/dose
2.2
1 kg
2.2 lbs
Conversion
3.08
2.2
0.1 x 30.8
2.2
Ordered dose
1 mg
= 1.4 mg/dose
Recommended
High Dose
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
dose
Ordered
Dose
1 mL
10 mg
Available
Drug
1 =
10
0.1 mL / dose
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
kg/dose
Recommended
Dose
High:
2 mcg
kg/dose
Recommended
Dose
26 lbs
Weight
26 lbs
Weight
1 kg
2.2 lbs
Conversion
26
2.2
1 kg
2 x 26
2.2 lbs
2.2
Conversion
Doctor’s Order: 0.025 mg 1000 mcg 1 day
dose
1 mg
dose
Ordered Conversion
Dose
Compare:
Recommended
Low dose
11.8 mcg
Recommended
High Dose
23.6 mcg
= 11.8 mcg/dose
52
2.2
= 23.6 mcg/dose
0.025 x 1000
= 25 mcg/dose
Ordered
Dose
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
kg/dose
2.2 lbs
2.2
Recommended Weight Conversion
Dose
Compare:
Recommended
Dose
20 mg
44 = 20 mg/dose
2.2
Ordered
Dose
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