Weighting GAME
A child weighs 78 lbs and the provider ordered 5mcg/kg/dose of an antibiotic. What is the dose in mcg? (round your answer to the nearest whole number)
177mcg
78 lbs divided by 2.2 = 35.45 x 5mcg = 177.27 rounded to the nearest WHOLE number is 177mcg
2 tbsp = How many OUNCES?
1 ounce (which is also equal to 30mL)
BECAUSE 1 tbsp = 15 mL
2 x 15 = 30 mL which equals 1 ounce
The provider orders 375 mg of a medication.
Available: 250 mg/5 mL
How many mL should the nurse administer?
375 mg/250 mg × 5 mL = 7.5 mL
✅ Answer: 7.5 mL
Calculate the patient's total liquid intake for the shift in mL: He had 8 oz of beef broth, 6 oz of Jello, 1 slice of toast, 500 ml bag of normal saline, 16 oz of ice chips.
1160 ml
First convert all ounces to mL
8 x 30 = 240
6 x 30 = 180
16 oz of ICE CHIPS is halved so we must divide this amount by 2.
ICE CHIPS 8 x 30 = 240
plus the 500 mL bag of normal saline
240 + 180 + 240 + 500 = 1160 mL
500 mg acetaminophen. Available: 250 mg tablets. How many tablets?
2 tablets
Using the ordered over available method:
500/250 = 2
Convert 245 lbs to kg, Round to the nearest tenth.
111.4
245/2.2 = 111.363636 = 111.4
>5 round UP!
How many mcg are in 1 mg?
1000mcg = 1 mg
The provider orders 600 mL of IV fluids to infuse over 5 hours.
What rate should the nurse set the IV pump at in mL/hr?
120 ml/hr
COME UP TO THE BOARD AND SHOW US THE SOLUTION!
During a lunch a patient consumes:
1 popsicle (90 mL)
5 oz water
½ cup ice cream
What is the total intake in mL?
360 mL
Solution
Water:
5 × 30 = 150 mL
Ice cream:
½ cup = 120 mL
Popsicle:
90 mL
Total intake:
150 + 120 + 90 = 360 mL
The provider orders 1000 mL of IV fluid to infuse over 8 hours.
How many mL/hr should the IV pump be set at?
1000 mL/8 hours=125 mL/hr
A child weighs 10 kg. The provider orders 5 mg/kg of a medication.
50mg
The weight is ALREADY in kg! so just multiply!
5 x 10 = 50mg
How many teaspoons are in 1 ounce?
6 teaspoons = 1 ounce
BECAUSE 1 ounce is equal to 30 mL
1 tsp is equal to 5 mL
Write what you know, and what is being asked:
1oz/30mL divided by 1tsp/5mL = 6 tsp/30mL
The provider orders 0.4 g of a medication by mouth.
Available: 200 mg/5 mL
How many mL should the nurse administer?
First convert grams to mg:
0.4 g = 400 mg (move your decimal!!!!!)
Now calculate using ordered over available multiplied by the QUANTITY:
400 mg/200 mg × 5 mL= 10 mL
✅ Answer: 10 mL
“Which of these count as liquid intake?”
gelatin
ice cream
popsicles
soup
ice chips
ALL OF THEM
REMEMBER TO HALVE THE PROVIDED AMOUNT FOR THE ICE CHIPS AND ONLY THE ICE CHIPS!!!!!!! all other provided liquids are the amounts stated!
The provider orders 500 mL of IV fluid to infuse over 4 hours.
The tubing drop factor is 15 gtt/mL.
How many gtt/min should the nurse administer (round to the nearest whole number)?
31gtt/min
FIRST convert your hours to minutes because we want gtt/min!
4 hours x 60 min = 240 min
THEN solve by taking the order multiplied by the gtt/mL provided and then divide by your time
500 mL x 15 gtt/min DIVIDED by 240 min = 31.25 but we are not done yet! ROUND to the NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER
31 gtt/min because the 2 < 5 so you drop all of your decimals/round down
A child weighs 44 lb. The provider orders 5 mg/kg of a medication.
How many mg should the nurse administer per dose?
Step 1: Convert pounds to kilograms
1 kg = 2.2 lb
44 ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg
Step 2: Calculate the dose
Dose = (mg/kg) \times (weight in kg)
5 mg × 20 kg = 100 mg
A medication order reads 750 mg.
How many grams is this?
750 ÷ 1000 = 0.75 g
The provider orders 875 mg of a medication.
The medication is available as 250 mg tablets.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?
(BONUS POINTS DO WE ALWAYS GIVE HALF A TABLET?)
3.5 tablets!
COME UP TO THE BOARD AND SHOW US THE SOLUTION!!!
(ONLY IF THE TABLET IS SCORED!!!!) per nclex, in practice you COULD with a pill cutter but NEVER CUT A CAPSULE or ENTERIC COATED.
During a 12-hour shift a patient consumes the following:
8 oz coffee
6 oz orange juice
1 cup chicken broth
4 oz gelatin
½ cup ice cream
12 oz ice chips
5 oz water
What is the patient’s total intake in mL?
Key conversions students should know:
1 oz = 30 mL
1 cup = 240 mL
Ice chips = ½ volume
Coffee
8 oz × 30 = 240 mL
Orange juice
6 oz × 30 = 180 mL
Chicken broth
1 cup = 240 mL
Gelatin
4 oz × 30 = 120 mL
Ice cream
½ cup = 120 mL
Ice chips
12 oz × 30 = 360 mL
Ice chips count as half volume
360 ÷ 2 = 180 mL
Water
5 oz × 30 = 150 mL
Total Intake
240
180
240
120
120
180
150
= 1,230 mL
250 mg acetaminophen. Available: 500 mg tablets. How many tablets? (round your answer to the nearest whole number)
0.5 = 1/2 tablet
Using the ordered over available method:
250/500 = 0.5
A child weighs 22 lb.
The recommended safe dose for a medication is 5–10 mg/kg/day.
The provider orders 150 mg per day.
Is this a safe dose?
Step 1: Convert pounds to kilograms
22 lb ÷ 2.2 = 10 kg
Step 2: Find the safe range
Safe;Dose;Range = (mg/kg) \times (weight;in;kg)
Low end:
5 mg × 10 kg = 50 mg/day
High end:
10 mg × 10 kg = 100 mg/day
Safe range = 50–100 mg/day
Step 3: Compare the ordered dose
Ordered dose = 150 mg/day
150 mg exceeds the safe range
A medication order reads 0.5 mg.
The medication label reads 500 mcg per tablet.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?
0.5 mg = 500 mcg
Available = 500 mcg per tablet
✅ Correct Answer: B. 1 tablet
Remember to move your decimal to the right 3 times when going to SMALLER units and to the left 3 times when going to LARGER units.
A child weighs 33 lb.
The recommended safe dose is 10–15 mg/kg/day in 3 divided doses.
The provider orders 150 mg per dose.
Is this a safe dose?
Solution:
First convert pounds to kilograms:
33÷2.2=15 kg
Now calculate the safe daily range:
Low end:
10×15=150 mg/day
15×15=225 mg
Safe daily range = 150–225 mg/day
Now divide by 3 doses per day:
Low end per dose:
150÷3=50 mg/dose
High end per dose:
225÷3=75 mg/dose
Safe range per dose = 50–75 mg/dose
Ordered dose = 150 mg/dose
✅ Answer: No, the dose is too high
During a shift a client consumes the following:
6 oz coffee
1 cup chicken broth
4 oz apple juice
½ cup ice cream
8 oz ice chips
1 container pudding (4 oz)
5 oz water
What is the client’s total intake in mL?
PUDDING DOES NOT COUNT AS A LIQUID!!!!
180 mL coffee
240 mL broth
120 mL apple juice
120 mL ice cream
120 mL ice chips (HALVED)
150 mL water
= 930 mL
✅ Final Answer: 930 mL
The provider orders 120 mL to infuse over 45 minutes.
What rate should the nurse set the IV pump at in mL/hr?
First convert 45 minutes to hours:
45÷60=0.75 hr
Now calculate:
120÷0.75=160
✅ Answer: 160 mL/hr
When you are infusing over a time that is LESS THAN 60min, your rate PER HOUR will always be LARGER than what is being ordered because its a quick infusion and being infused in LESS THAN AN HOUR.
Check this by:
160 mL / 60 min =2.666666666
THEN take 2.666 x 45 min = 120 mL infused which matches the ordered rate and volume!