The nurse is caring for a child who weighs 75 lb. The medication ordered for the child has a therapeutic dosage range of 33 mg/kg per day to 48 mg/kg per day. The medication ordered is to be given 4 times per day. Which dosages would be appropriate for the nurse to administer to this child in one dose?

Choice A reason: For a 75-lb child (34 kg), the daily dose range is 1122-1632 mg (33-48 mg/kg). Divided by 4, each dose is 280.5-408 mg. 280 mg is slightly below the minimum, making this borderline and incorrect compared to a dose within the safe therapeutic range for administration. Choice B reason: A 75-lb child weighs 34 kg (75 ÷ 2.2). The daily dose range is 1122-1632 mg (33-48 mg/kg), so per dose (÷4) is 280.5-408 mg. 375 mg falls within this range, aligning with pediatric pharmacology, making it the correct dosage to administer per dose. Choice C reason: For a 75-lb child (34 kg), the daily dose range is 1122-1632 mg (33-48 mg/kg), with each dose (÷4) being 280.5-408 mg. 408 mg is at the maximum but within range, making this correct but less optimal than 375 mg, which is safer within the therapeutic window. Choice D reason: A 75-lb child (34 kg) requires 1122-1632 mg daily (33-48 mg/kg), so each dose (÷4) is 280.5-408 mg. 250 mg is below the minimum, risking underdosing, making this incorrect compared to 375 mg, which is safely within the therapeutic range for the child.