A 5-year-old with severe osteomyelitis has not been responding to first-line therapy. The nurse is ordered to give vancomycin IV every 6 hours to the patient. If the recommended dose is 10 mg/kg, what is the total daily dose of vancomycin if the patient weighs 44 lbs?
Explanation
• First, convert the weight in lbs into kg, then multiply the patient's weight by 10 mg per dose, then by 4 doses per day.
44 lb / 2.2 = 20 kg
20 kg x 10 mg per dose = 200 mg
200 mg x 4 doses per day (every 6 hours) = 800 mg total daily dose
Visit our website for other NCLEX topics now!