To calculate the amount of naloxone to administer to the newborn

QUESTION

A newborn is ordered naloxone available in 1mg/ml vials. The dose is 0.1mg/kg. The newborn weighs 8lbs 4 oz. How
many ml will the nurse administer?

ANSWER

To calculate the amount of naloxone to administer to the newborn, we need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Convert the weight of the newborn from pounds and ounces to kilograms.
Step 2: Calculate the dose of naloxone based on the newborn’s weight.
Step 3: Determine the volume (in ml) to administer.

Let’s break down each step:

Step 1: Convert Weight to Kilograms

The newborn’s weight is 8 pounds and 4 ounces. To convert this to kilograms, we can use the following conversions:
– 1 pound = 0.453592 kilograms
– 1 ounce = 0.0283495 kilograms

First, convert pounds to kilograms:
8 pounds * 0.453592 kg/pound = 3.628736 kg

Now, convert ounces to kilograms:
4 ounces * 0.0283495 kg/ounce = 0.113398 kg

Next, add the two values together to get the newborn’s weight in kilograms:
3.628736 kg + 0.113398 kg = 3.742134 kg

Step 2: Calculate Dose of Naloxone

The dose of naloxone is 0.1 mg/kg. Now that we know the newborn’s weight in kilograms (3.742134 kg), we can calculate the dose:

Dose = Weight (kg) * Dose (mg/kg)
Dose = 3.742134 kg * 0.1 mg/kg = 0.3742134 mg

Step 3: Determine Volume to Administer

The available naloxone is in 1 mg/ml vials, and we’ve calculated the dose to be 0.3742134 mg. To find the volume in milliliters (ml) to administer, we’ll use the following formula:

Volume (ml) = Dose (mg) / Concentration (mg/ml)

Volume = 0.3742134 mg / 1 mg/ml = 0.3742134 ml

So, the nurse will administer approximately 0.374 ml of naloxone to the newborn.