If Lactulose oral solution 10 g is ordered three times a day and is available as 40 g in 60 mL, how many teaspoons will the nurse administer each time?

To determine the correct amount to administer, it's necessary to calculate how much volume corresponds to the ordered 10 g of Lactulose based on the available concentration.

The solution provides 40 g of Lactulose in 60 mL. To find out how many grams are in 1 mL, you divide 40 g by 60 mL:

40 g / 60 mL = 0.6667 g/mL.

Next, to find out how many mL are needed to deliver 10 g of Lactulose, you divide 10 g by the concentration in grams per mL:

10 g / 0.6667 g/mL ≈ 15 mL.

Now, the next step is to convert 15 mL to teaspoons. Since there are approximately 5 mL in 1 teaspoon, the calculation is:

15 mL ÷ 5 mL/tsp = 3 tsp.

Thus, the nurse will administer 3 teaspoons of the Lactulose solution each time, corresponding to the ordered dose of 10 g. This calculation shows a proper understanding of converting dosage and volume units, both key skills in medication administration and ensuring patient safety.