Ampicillin is prescribed by the doctor for a client at 150 mcg, and tablets are available in 0.1 mg. How many tablets should be given to the patient?

1. A

   1.5 Tablets

2. B

   1 tablet

3. C

   3 tablet

4. D

   2 tablet

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO - 2018

Explanation

• The core task is converting units to match before calculating the dose.
• First, convert the available tablet strength from milligrams (mg) to micrograms (mcg) to match the prescribed dose unit. Since 1 mg = 1000 mcg, 0.1 mg is equal to 100 mcg.
• Next, use the standard dosage calculation formula: (Dose Required / Dose Available).
• Divide the prescribed dose (150 mcg) by the available dose per tablet (100 mcg).
• The calculation is 150 / 100, which equals 1.5.
• Therefore, the correct number of tablets to administer is 1.5.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option B: Administering 1 tablet would result in underdosing the patient, as it only provides 100 mcg of the prescribed 150 mcg.
• Option C: Administering 3 tablets would result in a significant overdose (300 mcg), which is double the prescribed amount.
• Option D: Administering 2 tablets would result in an overdose (200 mcg), providing 50 mcg more than prescribed.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Drug Dosage Calculation to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• Accurate drug calculation is a fundamental nursing responsibility and a critical component of patient safety. Errors can lead to underdosing (ineffective treatment) or overdosing (toxicity and adverse effects).
• This skill is essential for upholding the 'Five Rights of Medication Administration,' specifically the 'Right Dose.'.
• What if the tablets were scored and could be split, but the dose was 1.75 tablets? In this case, the nurse cannot accurately provide 1.75 tablets. The correct action would be to contact the pharmacy to see if a liquid formulation or a different tablet strength is available to ensure precise dosing.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the prescribed dose and the available dose from the question. Note their respective units (mcg and mg).
• Recognize that the units are different. You must convert them to a single, consistent unit before proceeding with any calculation.
• Recall or look up the conversion factor: 1 mg = 1000 mcg. Convert the available dose (0.1 mg) to mcg.
• Apply the universal formula for dosage calculation: (Dose Required / Dose Available) × Quantity.
• Substitute the values into the formula: (150 mcg / 100 mcg) × 1 tablet.
• Perform the division to find the final answer and select the matching option.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Drug Dosage Calculation
• Stem keywords: Ampicillin, prescribed, 150 mcg, tablets available, 0.1 mg
• Lead-in keywords: How many

Question ID

QuJY9d4r9S5FuiZCEn6kso

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 848-850

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 p. 142-144