High-Alert Medications
Hydromorphone PO

1. Identify the prepared volume, available medication, client’s weight, and required units

   Volume: 2.8 mL HM / dose   Available: 1 mg HM / mL   Weight: 61 lb /     Required: mg HM / kg | dose

2. Convert the administration volume to the prepared dose of HM in milligrams per kilogram

   Volume × available medication ÷ weight = mg HM / kg | dose

   OR

   ( mL HM / dose ) ( mg HM / mL ) ( lb / kg ) (   / lb ) = mg HM / kg | dose

   OR

   ( 2.8 mL HM / dose ) ( 1 mg HM / mL ) ( 2.2 lb / kg ) (   / 61 lb ) = 0.1009… mg HM / kg | dose

3. Round to one decimal place

   0.1009… mg HM / kg | dose ≈ 0.1 mg HM / kg | dose

Educational objective:
To calculate the prepared dose of hydromorphone, the nurse should first identify the administration volume (eg, 2.8 mL/dose),available medication (eg, 1 mg/mL), and client′s weight (61 lb) and then convert to the dose (eg, 0.1 mg/kg/dose).