When administering cefaclor to a preschooler weighing 20 kg, how many mL should the nurse give for one dose if the dosage is 30 mg/kg/day?

To determine the appropriate dose of cefaclor for a preschooler weighing 20 kg when the prescribed dosage is 30 mg/kg/day, first, calculate the total daily dose by multiplying the child's weight by the dosage per kilogram.

The calculation is as follows:

30 mg/kg/day × 20 kg = 600 mg/day.

Next, cefaclor typically has a concentration of 125 mg/5 mL. To find out how many mL corresponds to the 600 mg required for the day, use the concentration as a conversion factor:

Since 125 mg is found in 5 mL, we can set up a proportion to find out how many mL equals 600 mg:

(600 mg) × (5 mL / 125 mg) = 24 mL.

Since the total daily dose needs to be given as one single dose, the 24 mL would typically be divided across multiple doses, usually administered in equal parts. If the prescription allows for multiple doses, this might break down to 12 mL given twice a day.

However, if 600 mg is the amount for the entire day and should be given at once, dividing by 2 (common for many pediatric medications) gives an accurate outpatient