HESI RN CAT Exam Quizlet Related

Review HESI RN CAT Exam Quizlet related questions and content

A client who is bleeding after a vaginal delivery receives a prescription for methylergonovine (Methergine) 0.4 mg IM every 2 hours, not to exceed 5 doses. The medication is available in ampules containing 0.2 mg/ml. What is the maximum dosage in mg that the nurse should administer to this client?

  • A. Encourage oral fluids as tolerated
  • B. Decrease oral intake to 200 ml
  • C. Allow the client to have exactly 400 ml oral intake
  • D. Limit oral intake to 900 to 1,000 ml
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The maximum dosage the nurse should administer is 2 mg. This is calculated based on the prescription of 0.4 mg IM every 2 hours, not to exceed 5 doses. Since the medication is available in ampules containing 0.2 mg/ml, the nurse should administer 2 ml (0.2 mg/ml x 10 ml) for each dose, not exceeding 5 doses. Therefore, the nurse should limit the client's oral intake to 900 to 1,000 ml, to avoid exceeding the maximum dosage of 2 mg.