A nurse and a nursing student are reviewing the care of a 30-kg patient who will receive intravenous aminophylline. Which statement by the student indicates an understanding of the administration of this medication?
a. "After the loading dose has been given, the patient will receive 6 mg/kg/hr."
b. "Dosing is titrated based on the serum theophylline levels."
c. "If the patient's serum theophylline level is less than 15 mcg/mL, the rate should be reduced."
d. "The patient will receive a loading dose of 180 mg over 5 minutes."
B
Dosing for aminophylline is based on each patient's serum theophylline levels. The loading dose usually is 6 mg/kg; after that, the maintenance infusion is titrated according to the theophylline levels. A serum theophylline level of 15 mcg/mL is within the therapeutic range, so dosing would not need to change. The patient's total loading dose will be 180 mg, but infusions should never be given at a rate faster than 25 mg/min.
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