A patient is to receive dopamine 5 mcg/kg/min by continuous ...

[kaid0807]

A patient is to receive dopamine 5 mcg/kg/min by continuous intravenous infusion. The patient's weight is 176 lb.
 
  To complete the calculation of this medication problem, a nurse would have to know that 176 lb would convert to how many kilograms (kg)?
  a. 80
  b. 880
  c. 83
  d. 352

Question 2

A nurse is providing education regarding catecholamines. The nurse is evaluating understanding among the staff.
 
  Which statement made by one of the nurses would best demonstrate an understanding of why catecholamine medications cannot be administered orally?
  a. Catecholamines have a long half-life.
  b. The effects of catecholamines would be excessively potent if the drugs were given by this route.
  c. The side effect of catecholamines prevents this route of administration.
  d. Catecholamines are quickly destroyed by monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyltransferase enzymes.

[jesse.fleming]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
The formula must be shown for the student to understand how the answer was achieved. The first step is to change 176 lb to kg, which is the unit of measure in which the order is written: 176 lb = X kg; 2 lb = 1 kg; X = 80 kg.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
The actions of two enzymes, monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyltransferase, explain why catecholamines have a short half-life and cannot be used orally.
Catecholamines have a short half-life, not a long one, and therefore cannot be given orally.
The potency of catecholamines would not be affected by the route of oral administration.
The side effects of catecholamines are not related to the route of oral administration.

[kaid0807]

TY

[jesse.fleming]

You're welcome