A health care provider prescribes hydromorphone 1 mg IV every 3 hours for pain. The medication system lists hydromorphone 4 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer for a 1 mg dose?

• A. 0.25 mL
• B. 0.5 mL
• C. 1.0 mL
• D. 2.0 mL

Answer: (A)

The task is about turning a prescribed dose into the volume to administer using the solution’s concentration. Hydromorphone at 4 mg per 1 mL means each milliliter contains 4 mg. To give 1 mg, you use one quarter of that 1 mL: 1 mg ÷ 4 mg/mL = 0.25 mL. If you administered 0.5 mL, you’d give 2 mg; 1 mL would be 4 mg; 2 mL would be 8 mg. Always verify the concentration on theMedication label and perform the calculation before giving IV meds.