How many kilograms (kg) does the child weigh?

Dosage calculation: After an appendectomy, an 8-year-old child is being medicated with meperidine (Demerol) for postoperative pain. The dosage range for this child is 1.0 to 1.8 mg/kg. The child weighs 55 lb. The Demerol comes in a prefilled syringe with 50 mg/mL. Answer the following:

a. How many kilograms (kg) does the child weigh?

b. What is the low dose for this child?

c. What is the high dose for this child?

d. How many milliliters (mL) will be given for the low dose of the medication?

e. How many milliliters (mL) will be given for the high dose of the medication?

Nine-month-old Tina has severe diarrhea. She has been admitted to your unit and you have been assigned to be her nurse.

a. What symptoms would you expect Tina to exhibit?

b. What physical characteristics will you observe her for?

c. What documentation is especially important in her care?