A male client who weighs 175 lb (79.4 kg) is receiving aminophylline (Aminophyllin) (400 mg in 500 ml) at 50 ml/hour. The theophylline level is reported as 6 mcg/ml. The nurse calls the physician who instructs the nurse to change the dosage to 0.45 mg/kg/hour. The nurse should:
a. Question the order because it’s too low.
b. Question the order because it’s too high.
c. Set the pump at 45 ml/hour.
d. Stop the infusion and have the laboratory repeat the theophylline measurement.
Answer A.
A therapeutic theophylline level is 10 to 20 mcg/ml. The client is currently receiving 0.5 mg/kg/hour of aminophylline. Because the client’s theophylline level is sub-therapeutic, reducing the dose (which is what the physician’s order would do) would be inappropriate. Therefore, the nurse should question the order.
a. Question the order because it’s too low.
b. Question the order because it’s too high.
c. Set the pump at 45 ml/hour.
d. Stop the infusion and have the laboratory repeat the theophylline measurement.
Answer A.
A therapeutic theophylline level is 10 to 20 mcg/ml. The client is currently receiving 0.5 mg/kg/hour of aminophylline. Because the client’s theophylline level is sub-therapeutic, reducing the dose (which is what the physician’s order would do) would be inappropriate. Therefore, the nurse should question the order.
Labels
Respiratory