How many milliliters of tobramycin should the nurse administer for a client weighing 143 lbs, with a prescribed dose of 12 mg/kg/day?

• A. 8.9 mL
• B. 7.2 mL
• C. 6.5 mL
• D. 10.5 mL

Answer: (A)

To determine the correct amount of tobramycin to administer, we first need to calculate the dose based on the client's weight. The prescribed dose is 12 mg/kg/day.

1. Convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms. There are approximately 2.2 pounds in a kilogram, so for a client weighing 143 lbs:

[

143 \text{ lbs} \div 2.2 \text{ lbs/kg} \approx 65 \text{ kg}

]

2. Next, we calculate the total daily dose of tobramycin by multiplying the weight in kilograms by the prescribed dose:

[

65 \text{ kg} \times 12 \text{ mg/kg} = 780 \text{ mg/day}

]

3. The next step is to determine how many milliliters this corresponds to. This calculation depends on the concentration of the tobramycin solution, which is typically provided in mg/mL.

For example, if the concentration is, say, 100 mg/mL:

[

780 \text{ mg} \div 100 \text{ mg/mL} = 7.8 \text{ m