Question

The physician ordered digoxin (Lanoxin) \(0.125 \mathrm{mg}\) p.o. every day. The murse has digoxin \(0.25 \mathrm{mg}\) seoted tablets. How many tablet(s) should the nurse administer? a. \(1 / 2\) tablet b. I cabler c. \(1^{1 / 2}\) tablet d. 2 tablets

Short answer

The nurse should administer 1/2 tablet.

Step-by-step solution

Determine the desired dose

The physician has prescribed a specific amount of medication that is needed. For this problem, the desired dose is 0.125 mg of digoxin.

Identify the tablet strength available

Determine the strength of the tablets on hand, which is given as 0.25 mg per scored tablet in this exercise.

Calculate the number of tablets needed

To find out the number of tablets the nurse should administer, divide the desired dose by the strength of the available tablet. In mathematical terms: \[\text{Number of tablets} = \frac{\text{desired dose}}{\text{tablet strength}}\]\[\text{Number of tablets} = \frac{0.125 \, \text{mg}}{0.25 \, \text{mg/tablet}}\]\[\text{Number of tablets} = 0.5 \, \text{tablets}\]

Key concepts

Nursing Pharmacology

Understanding the fundamentals of nursing pharmacology is critical for the safe and effective management of medications in patient care. Nursing pharmacology encompasses the study of how drugs interact with the human body, as well as their therapeutic effects, side effects, and potential interactions with other medications.

In everyday nursing practice, it's essential to be familiar with common drug classes, mechanisms of action, indications for use, and important administration considerations for different medications, such as digoxin in the given exercise. Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside used to treat certain heart conditions; hence, precise dosing is paramount to prevent toxicity.

Nurses should also be aware of pharmacokinetics, which refers to the movement of drugs within the body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Pharmacodynamics, on the other hand, involves how the drug affects the body. For a drug like digoxin, understanding its narrow therapeutic window is essential for patient safety.

Medication Administration

Medication administration is a key responsibility of nursing professionals. It involves several critical steps to ensure patient safety and the effectiveness of the treatment regimen. Key steps include verifying the patient's identity, checking for drug-drug interactions or allergies, confirming the 'Five Rights' of medication administration (Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time), and documenting the administration appropriately.

In our medication administration exercise, proper identification would involve confirming the physician's order for digoxin and understanding its indication. The route of administration here is specified as 'p.o.', which stands for per os (by mouth), ensuring the right route is adhered to. Once the correct dosage is calculated, it's the nurse's duty to administer exactly 0.5 tablets, as per the exercise, and document the dosing accurately to maintain continuity of care.

Dosage Calculation

Dosage calculation is a vital skill for nursing professionals to master. It ensures patients receive the correct amount of a medication. In the context of our problem-solving exercise, the key to accurate medication dosage calculation is understanding the formula:
\[\begin{equation}\text{Number of tablets} = \frac{\text{desired dose}}{\text{tablet strength}}\end{equation}\]
In the given sample, the nurse must divide the prescribed dose (0.125 mg) by the available tablet strength (0.25 mg) to determine that half a tablet (0.5 tablet) should be administered. This calculation is a straightforward proportional relationship where the amount of medication on hand is adjusted to meet the desired dose.

To improve medication dosage calculations, it is helpful to use dimensional analysis or ratio and proportion methods, double-check calculations, and get a peer to review complex dosages. Such practices help prevent medication errors and ensure patient safety.