Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PEDIATRIC DOSAGE CALCULATION
STUDY GUIDE
I.

Frequently used conversion Factors (memorize these)

1 kg
= 1000 gm
= 2.2 lbs
1 lb.
= 16 oz
1 gm
= 1000 mg
1mg
= 1000 mcg
1 cc
= 1 ml
1 oz
= 30cc
= 30 ml
1 in = 2.5 cm
1 cm
= 10 mm

II.

Rounding numbers
Use TCC Rounding Rules when rounding final answers. Remember: When
calculating milliliters, if amount is less than 1 ml , round to nearest hundredth,.
Example:
0.923 ml is rounded to 0.92 ml
0.926 ml is rounded to 0.93 ml

III.

Converting Pounds to Kilograms

When converting lb to kg, round to the nearest tenth. Carry answer 2 decimal
places and round to one decimal place (ex. 20 lbs = 9.09 or 9.1 kg)

Ex: Convert a childs weight of 30 lb to kg.

X kg = 1kg_ X 30 lb
2.2lb
1
X = 30_
2.2
X = 13.63 kg = 13.6 kg
IV.

Converting Kilograms to Pounds

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Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

Ex: Convert a childs weight of 24.3 kg to pounds
X lb = 2.2lb X 24.3 kg

1kg

2.2 X 24.3 = 53.46 = 53.5 lb

V.

Converting Pounds and ounces to Kilograms

Ex: Convert an infants weight of 14 lb 6oz to kilograms
X lb = 1 lb X 6oz
16oz
1
X = 6_
16
X = 0.37 lb = 0.4 lb
Infants weight = 14.4 lb
14.4 2.2 = 6.54 = 6.5 kg

VI.

Converting Grams to Kilograms

Ex: Convert an infants weight of 3000 g to Kilograms
X kg = 1kg____ X 3000 g
1000 gm
1
X = 3000
1000
X = 3kg

VII.

Dosage (See Morris, pg. 545)

Recommended Dosage
Total Daily Dosage
Divided Dosages- The dosage a child should receive each time the drug is administered
Deciding if Dosage is Safe

Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

VIII.

Standard Method

Order: Tobramycin Sulfate (Nebcin) 7.5 mg IM BID.

Available: 10 mg/ml.
Determine the amount in ml to administer for each dosage.
Solution using Dimensional Analysis:
ml__
7.5 mg
ml = 10mg
X
1
X = 7.5ml
10

= 0.75 ml/dose

Solution using ratio and proportion:

10 mg
1ml

= 7.5 mg
X ml

X = 0.75ml
1.

Order: Acetaminophen liquid 240 mg PO q 4h PRN pain.

Available: 160 mg/5ml.
How many ml will you administer for the dosage?

2. Penicillin G (Wycillin) 1,000,000 Units IM is ordered for a child with an

infection.
The medication label reads: 1,200,000 Units/2ml.
How many ml will the nurse administer?

3. Order: Ampicillin 125-mg IV q6h.

The medication is reconstituted from powder with Sterile water for injection. The
concentration is 100mg/ml.
How many ml will the nurse administer for the dosage?

Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

IX.

Body Weight Method

A. Divided Dosage

The recommended dosage for pediatric Tylenol is 25mg/kg/day in 4 equally divided

doses. The child weighs 16 kg. What is the divided dosage?
Solution using Dimensional Analysis:
25mg
mg =
kg
X

16 kg
1

25 X 16
1
25 X 16 = 400 mg/day
400 mg 4= 100 mg/dose
Solution using ratio and proportion:
25mg
Kg

= Xmg
16kg

X = 400mg/day
400mg4 = 100mg/dose
1. Recommended dosage: Lanoxin elixir 8 mcg/kg/day in 2 equally divided doses
Childs weight: 15 kg.
What is the divided dosage?

2.Recommended maintenance dosage of Dilantin: 4mg/kg/day divided equally q 12 h.

Available: 125 mg/5ml.
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Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

Childs weight: 33 lb.
What is the divided dosage?
How many ml should the child receive per dosage?

3.Recommended Dosage: Ampicillin 5 mg/kg q8h IV for a newborn.

Available: 500mg/5ml.
Weight: 4000gm
What is the divided dosage?
How many ml will you administer for each dose?

4. The recommended IM dosage of Valium is 0.5 mg/kg/dose.

The medication is labeled 2.5 mg/ml.
The infant weighs 8 lb 4 oz.
Calculate the dosage
How many ml will the infant receive?
Mark amount on syringe:

2. Total Daily Dosage

Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

1. The recommended dose of erythromycin is 10mg/kg three times daily.
The child weighs 23 lb 6 oz. What is the total daily dosage?
a.

Convert oz to lb

16 oz = 1lb
6 oz = 6/16 lb
6/16 lb = 0.375 lb (round to nearest 10th) = 0.4lb
b. 23 lb 6 oz = 23.4 lb
23.4 2.2 (2.2 pounds per kg) = 10.64 = 10.6 kg
c.

single dosage
Dimensional Analysis:
10mg
10.6kg
mg = kg
X
1
10mg X 10.6 = 106 mg
Ratio and Proportion:
10mg = Xmg
Kg
10.6kg
X = 10 X 10.6 = 106 mg

d.

total daily dosage

Recommended dose three times daily
3 X 106 = 318 mg/day

2. The recommended dosage of Ampicillin IV: 100 mg/kg/day

Childs weight: 10 kg.
What is the total daily dosage?

3. The recommended pediatric dose of Cefotaxime: 50 mg/kg/day.

The child weighs 33 lb
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Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

What is the total daily dosage?

4. The physician orders Gentamycin IV for a child

The recommended dose is 6 mg/kg/day in equal doses q 8 h.
The childs weight: 44 lb.
The gentamicin vial is labeled 10mg/ml.
a. What is the total daily dosage?

b. What is the divided dosage?

c. How many ml of Gentamycin will the child receive for each dosage?

3. Minimum and Maximum Dosage (Is the Order Safe)?

1. The physician orders Amoxil Oral Suspension 150 mg PO q 8h for a
child who weighs 18 kg. The recommended dose is 20-40mg/kg/day.
a. Determine the minimum and maximum daily doses for this child.
minimum daily dose
maximum daily dose
mg=20mg X 18 Kg
mg= 40mg X 18 kg
1kg
1
1kg
1
20 x 18 = 360mg/day
40 x 18 = 720mg/day
Ratio and Proportion:
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Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

20mg = Xmg
Kg
18kg
X = 20 x 18 = 360mg/day

40mg = Xmg
Kg
18kg
X = 40 x 18 = 720mg/day

b. Determine the minimum and maximum single doses for this child.
Note: q8h = 3 times/24h (day)
Minimum single dose
maximum single dose
360mg 3 = 120 mg/dose
720mg 3 = 240 mg/dose
c. Is the ordered dose safe (within the recommended range)?
Yes. It is within the recommended range of 120-240mg/dose.
2. Order: Penicillin V (Pen-Vee K) 250 mg PO q6h
Recommended pediatric dosage: 25-50 mg/kg/day
Childs weight: 30 lb.
a. Determine the minimum and maximum recommended total daily dosages
for this child.

b. Determine the minimum and maximum recommended single dosages for

this child.

c. Is the ordered dosage safe?

3. Order: Dilantin 15 mg PO q 12h

Recommended Dosage: 4 8 mg/kg/day q 12h
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Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

Infants weight: 11 lb
a. Determine the minimum and maximum recommended total daily
dosages for this child.

b. Determine the minimum and maximum recommended single dosages

for this child.

c. Is the ordered dosage safe?

Practice Problems
1. Ampicillin has been ordered for a 5 month old infant weighing 6.4 kg. The
recommended dosage is 100mg/kg/dose IV every 6 hours. What is the total daily
dosage?

2. A 2500 gm infant in the NICU is being treated for seizures. The physician prescribes
phenobarbital q12h.
The recommended dosage of Phenobarbital: 10 mg/kg/day divided every 12 hours.
Calculate the single dosage.

3. Recommended dosage of Penicillin G: 250,000 units/kg/day divided in equal doses

q6hours.
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Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

Available : 1,000,000 units/10 ml.
Weight: 12.5 lbs.
Calculate the dosage
How many mls should the infant receive per dose?

4. The physician orders Carbamazepine (Tegretol) 200 mg po BID for a child with a
sezure disorder. The child weighs 25 kg. The recommended dose of Tegretol is 10
20 mg/kg/day PO divided every 12 hours.
Is the prescribed dosage too little, too much, or satisfactory?

5. The physician orders Midazolam 1.5 mg IV stat for a child who weighs 15 kg. The
recommended IV dose of Midazolam is 0.1 mg/kg/dose. Is the ordered dosage safe?

Practice Problems

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Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

6. The physician orders Gabapentin (Neurontin) 76 mg PO TID for a child. The child
weighs 33 pounds 6 ounces. The recommended oral dose of the medication is 3 12
mg/kg/dose three times each day. Is the ordered dose safe?

7. The physician orders morphine sulfate 1.8 mg IM stat. The child weighs 79 lb. The
recommended dosage is 0.1 0.2 mg/kg. Is this dosage safe?

8. Recommended pediatric dosage of Lanoxin: 5mcg/kg/day.

Childs weight: 25 kg.
Calculate the dosage.
lanoxin elixir available: 0.05mg/ml.
Calculate the amount necessary to administer the correct dosage.

Practice Problems

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Pediatric Dosage Calculations Study Guide

9.

Order: Keflex 125 mg p.o. q6h

Childs weight: 44-lb
Recommended dosage : 25mg/kg/day
Is the ordered dosage safe?

10. Order: Theophylline 105 mg/PO q6h

Childs weight: 66lb
Recommended dosage: 3mg/kg/dose given 4 times/day
Is the order safe?

11. Order: Ibuprophen 180 mg PO Q 6hrs prn pain

Childs weight 18kg
Recommended Dosage: 10mg/kg/dose q 6h prn pain
Available: 100mg/5ml
Calculate the amount necessary to administer the correct dosage.

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