A nurse is preparing to administer levothyroxine 0.075 mg PO to a client. Available is levothyroxine 25 mcg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To calculate the number of tablets the nurse should administer, we need to convert the required dose into the same unit of measurement as the available tablets. The desired dose is 0.075 mg, and the available tablets are 25 mcg each. Let’s break it down step-by-step.
Step 1: Convert the desired dose into micrograms
Since the available tablets are in micrograms (mcg), we first need to convert the dose of levothyroxine from milligrams (mg) to micrograms (mcg).
- 1 mg = 1000 mcg
So, to convert 0.075 mg to mcg:
[
0.075 \, \text{mg} \times 1000 \, \frac{\text{mcg}}{\text{mg}} = 75 \, \text{mcg}
]
Step 2: Calculate the number of tablets to administer
Next, we need to determine how many 25 mcg tablets are required to provide 75 mcg. We can do this by dividing the total required dose (75 mcg) by the dose in each tablet (25 mcg).
[
\frac{75 \, \text{mcg}}{25 \, \text{mcg per tablet}} = 3 \, \text{tablets}
]
Step 3: Round the answer
Since the result is exactly 3 tablets, rounding is not necessary.
Final Answer:
The nurse should administer 3 tablets.
Explanation:
The critical steps in this calculation involve converting the units to make the doses compatible and then dividing the required dose by the dose in each tablet to determine how many tablets are needed. By converting 0.075 mg to 75 mcg, the nurse ensures that the correct dose is being administered. Levothyroxine is typically prescribed in precise doses, and understanding how to calculate medication dosages accurately is crucial for patient safety.