How many mL should the nurse add to the gentamicin solution per dose for a client weighing 132 lb?

To determine the correct volume of gentamicin solution that should be administered, it is essential to understand the dosing guidelines based on the client’s weight. Gentamicin is often dosed based on body weight in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg).

Given that the client weighs 132 lb, the first step is to convert the weight from pounds to kilograms, as medical dosing typically uses the metric system. The conversion factor is that 1 pound is approximately equal to 0.454 kilograms. Therefore, 132 lb converts to about 60 kg (132 x 0.454 = 60 kg).

Once the weight is converted, refer to the recommended dosing for gentamicin, which is generally around 3 to 5 mg/kg for most infections. If you're using a standard dose of, for example, 5 mg/kg, you can calculate the total dosage needed for that individual.

Assuming the maximum dose of gentamicin is being utilized (5 mg/kg), it would be calculated as follows: 60 kg x 5 mg/kg = 300 mg total per dose.

The next step would be to determine the appropriate concentration of the gentamicin solution (commonly available as either 40 mg/mL or 80