Answer :
Final answer:
Option A. To deliver 20 mEq IV of medication with a concentration of 40 mEq per 10 mL, the nurse should administer 5 mL of the medication.
Explanation:
To calculate how many milliliters (mL) of the medication is needed when a doctor orders 20 mEq IV and the medication is available at a concentration of 40 mEq per 10 mL, we must use a proportional calculation. The calculation is based on the ratio of the ordered dose to the available dose, as represented in the formula:
Ordered mEq : Available mEq = X mL : Available mL
Where 'Ordered mEq' is the amount prescribed by the physician and 'X mL' is the unknown volume we need to find. Plugging in the values from the question, we get:
20 mEq : 40 mEq = X mL : 10 mL
By cross-multiplying, we find that (20 mEq * 10 mL) = (40 mEq * X mL), which simplifies to:
200 mEq*mL = 40 mEq*X mL
To solve for X, divide both sides by 40 mEq, yielding:
X = 200 mEq*mL / 40 mEq
X = 5 mL
The nurse should administer 5 mL of the medication to deliver 20 mEq of the medication intravenously.
