The doctor has prescribed 2.5 mg of Haloperidol for an agitated patient. The medication is labeled haloperidol 10 mg/2 ml. The nurse prepares the correct dose by drawing up how many milliliters in the syringe?

1. A

   0.5

2. B

   0.3

3. C

   0.4

4. D

   0.6

Appeared in: JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018

Explanation

• The standard formula for calculating drug dosage is (Desired Dose / Dose on Hand) × Volume.
• In this scenario, the Desired Dose is 2.5 mg, the Dose on Hand is 10 mg, and the Volume is 2 ml.
• Substituting these values into the formula gives: (2.5 mg / 10 mg) × 2 ml.
• The calculation simplifies to 0.25 × 2 ml, which equals 0.5 ml.
• Therefore, the correct volume to draw into the syringe is 0.5 ml to deliver the prescribed 2.5 mg dose.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option B: 3 ml is an incorrect volume. Administering this amount would result in a significant underdose of the medication (1.5 mg instead of 2.5 mg).
• Option C: 4 ml is an incorrect volume. Administering this amount would result in an underdose of the medication (2 mg instead of 2.5 mg).
• Option D: 6 ml is an incorrect volume. Administering this amount would result in a slight overdose of the medication (3 mg instead of 2.5 mg).

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Medication Dose Calculation to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• Accurate dose calculation is a fundamental nursing competency essential for patient safety. Errors can lead to underdosing (ineffective treatment) or overdosing (toxicity).
• This task is a core component of the 'Six Rights' of medication administration, specifically the 'Right Dose'.
• Nurses should always double-check their calculations, especially for high-alert medications. Having a colleague perform an independent check is a best practice.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the three key pieces of information required for the calculation: the Desired dose (D), the dose on Hand (H), and the Volume (V) the dose on hand comes in.
• From the problem, extract: D = 2.5 mg, H = 10 mg, V = 2 ml.
• Recall or write down the standard drug calculation formula: (D / H) × V = Amount to Administer.
• Substitute the extracted values into the formula: (2.5 mg / 10 mg) × 2 ml.
• Perform the mathematical calculation step-by-step to avoid errors: 2.5 divided by 10 is 0.25. Then, 0.25 multiplied by 2 is 0.5.
• The result is 0.5 ml. Match this result with the given options to select the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Medication Dose Calculation
• Stem keywords: Haloperidol, prescribed 2.5 mg, 10 mg/2 ml, milliliters, syringe
• Lead-in keywords: how many

Question ID

Q1MNYnJYrRrR9fZqhIEZCx

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