A physician orders Tylenol 3 (codeine/APAP) 30 mg by mouth every 4-6 hours as needed for pain. The nurse has Tylenol 3 available as 30/300 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer to the patient?
A.
0.1 tablets
B.
0.5 tablets
C.
1 tablet
D.
3 tablets
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
To determine how many Tylenol 3 tablets (30/300 mg) a nurse should administer to provide 30 mg of codeine, we start with the physician’s order, which specifies 30 mg of codeine every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain.
Available Medication:
- Each Tylenol 3 tablet contains:
- 30 mg of codeine
- 300 mg of acetaminophen (APAP)
Dosage Calculation: The ordered dose is for 30 mg of codeine. Since each tablet of Tylenol 3 contains exactly 30 mg of codeine, we need to calculate how many tablets to give.
- Determine Required Dosage:
- Ordered: 30 mg of codeine.
- Available: Each tablet provides 30 mg of codeine.
- Calculation:Number of tablets=Ordered doseDose per tablet=30 mg30 mg/tablet=1 tablet\text{Number of tablets} = \frac{\text{Ordered dose}}{\text{Dose per tablet}} = \frac{30 \, \text{mg}}{30 \, \text{mg/tablet}} = 1 \, \text{tablet}Number of tablets=Dose per tabletOrdered dose=30mg/tablet30mg=1tablet
Conclusion: The nurse should administer 1 tablet of Tylenol 3 to provide the prescribed dose of 30 mg of codeine.
Rationale: The rationale behind using the correct dosage is to ensure effective pain management while minimizing the risk of side effects associated with opioids. Administering less than the required dose (e.g., 0.1 or 0.5 tablets) may not provide adequate pain relief, while administering more than the prescribed dose (e.g., 3 tablets) can lead to potential toxicity and increased side effects, such as sedation, constipation, or respiratory depression.
In summary, the answer is C. 1 tablet. This calculation underscores the importance of accurate medication administration in nursing practice, ensuring patients receive safe and effective doses tailored to their needs. Proper understanding and calculations prevent errors that could adversely affect patient outcomes.