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Discussion

HELP! I can't understand this easy math problem!

Hello everyone, this is such an easy math problem, I'm so peeved at myself for having such a hard time with it. I'm hoping your replies can help me understand what I'm NOT understanding or OVER-READING into. :banghead:

Order: Serzone (nefazodone hydrochloride), PO, initially: 200 mg in 2 divided doses; 100 mg in 2 divided doses; may increase to 100 mg, bid.

Available: Serzone (nefazodone hydrochloride) 50 mg tablets

a. How many tablets should the client initially receive?

b. How many tablets should the client receive per dose when ordered 100 mg in 2 divided doses?

c. How many tablets should the client receive per dose when increased to 100 mg, bid?

I use the Desire/Have x Unit formula and come up with 4 tabs

D 200mg/ H 50 mg = 4 tabs

Now, since it says, "initially 200 mg in 2 divided doses", I did:

4 tablets divided by 2 doses = 2 tabs, which would be 100 mg (which is half of 200 mg).

So my answer to A would be 2 tabs.

For B, my answer would be 1 tab, because 100 mg/50 mg = 2 tabs / 2 doses = 1 tab

For C, my answer is 2 tabs per dose

However, the answer key states that:

A = 4 tablets

B = 1 tablet per dose

C = 2 tablets per dose

I'm confused because if you divide the doses for B, which has the same instructions as A, shouldn't A = 2 tabs? Why do I divide B, and not A? I copied and pasted the problem verbatim, punctuation and all. I even tried substituting "BID" for "divided doses" but it still doesn't make sense to me. Is the answer to A a typo? Can someone reword the problem to me in a different way? I am SO frustrated over this! Thanks a lot everyone!

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    • Featured Replies

    The answer to this question is call the physician for a clarification order.....

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    • Author

    I wish I could txspadequeenRN. This question was on my last math exam and I know I'm bound to receive more of these on future exams. :(

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    • Experts
    Hello everyone, this is such an easy math problem, I'm so peeved at myself for having such a hard time with it. I'm hoping your replies can help me understand what I'm NOT understanding or OVER-READING into. :banghead:

    Order: Serzone (nefazodone hydrochloride), PO, initially: 200 mg in 2 divided doses; 100 mg in 2 divided doses; may increase to 100 mg, bid.

    Available: Serzone (nefazodone hydrochloride) 50 mg tablets

    a. How many tablets should the client initially receive?

    b. How many tablets should the client receive per dose when ordered 100 mg in 2 divided doses?

    c. How many tablets should the client receive per dose when increased to 100 mg, bid?

    I use the Desire/Have x Unit formula and come up with 4 tabs

    D 200mg/ H 50 mg = 4 tabs

    Now, since it says, "initially 200 mg in 2 divided doses", I did:

    4 tablets divided by 2 doses = 2 tabs, which would be 100 mg (which is half of 200 mg).

    So my answer to A would be 2 tabs.

    For B, my answer would be 1 tab, because 100 mg/50 mg = 2 tabs / 2 doses = 1 tab

    For C, my answer is 2 tabs per dose

    However, the answer key states that:

    A = 4 tablets

    B = 1 tablet per dose

    C = 2 tablets per dose

    I'm confused because if you divide the doses for B, which has the same instructions as A, shouldn't A = 2 tabs? Why do I divide B, and not A? I copied and pasted the problem verbatim, punctuation and all. I even tried substituting "BID" for "divided doses" but it still doesn't make sense to me. Is the answer to A a typo? Can someone reword the problem to me in a different way? I am SO frustrated over this! Thanks a lot everyone!

    I see what they are doing.......

    The answer to the first part of the question.......

    Question......a. How many tablets should the client initially receive? initially: 200 mg in 2 divided doses;

    The answer is 4 (four) total tabs equal 200mgs (two tabs by mouth twice....not asked for in the question)

    Next question......

    Question b. How many tablets should the client receive per dose when ordered 100 mg in 2 divided doses? you have 50mg available

    The answer is 1(one) 50mg tabs twice to equal 100mg

    The third question is.........

    question c. How many tablets should the client receive per dose when increased to 100 mg, bid? (and you have 50mg tablets available.

    The answer is 2(two) you will give 2 (two) 50mg tabls for a dose equal to 100mg.

    Do you see it.......you don't need to answer how many tabs are given twice they ask how many 50mg tabs equals 200mg. watch what they are asking don't answer what they don't want to know.

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    In the real world, you would clarify that order. The reason the first question's answer is 4 is because it's asking for how many tabs pt. should initially recieve.......not how many tabs per dose. They are trick questions all through nursing school. Find a website that teaches you how to answer tricky questions. That's my advise. There's going to be a lot of them!:)

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    client is to receive 1gm of medicine BID (2 times a day). Available is 500mg capsules. How many capsules per dose should be administered?

    1capsule x1000mg x 1g x day ?

    500 mg x 1g x perday x 2 doses

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    client is to receive 1gm of medicine BID (2 times a day). Available is 500mg capsules. How many capsules per dose should be administered?

    1capsule x1000mg x 1g x day ?

    500 mg x 1g x perday x 2 doses

    Here is what I see:

    1 gram, twice daily. Pills are 500 milligrams. That means 2 pills per dose. (Also a total of 4 pills per day). You said, how many capsules per dose. That would be 2, correct?

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    client is to receive 1gm of medicine BID (2 times a day). Available is 500mg capsules. How many capsules per dose should be administered?

    1capsule x1000mg x 1g x day ?

    500 mg x 1g x perday x 2 doses

    2 caps for each dose

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    client is to receive 1gm of medicine BID (2 times a day). Available is 500mg capsules. How many capsules per dose should be administered?

    1capsule x1000mg x 1g x day ?

    500 mg x 1g x perday x 2 doses

    That would be 2 caps. 1g = 1000mg so 1000 mg = 2 500 mg caps

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    That would be 2. 500 mg. x 2 = 1000 mg = 1 g. I tried to respond a minute ago but it didn't look like it sent. Sorry if it is a duplicate.

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    client is to receive 1gm of medicine BID (2 times a day). Available is 500mg capsules. How many capsules per dose should be administered?

    1capsule x1000mg x 1g x day ?

    500 mg x 1g x perday x 2 doses

    You are way over-thinking this. Each dose is 1 g. 1 g = 1,000 mg. 1,000 mg/500 mg/cap = 2 capsules.

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    Thanks again, everyone of you!! :) I think I am making this more difficult that it is, but the fear of this new math (Dimensional Analysis) gets the best of me....

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    Remember that you took algebra for a reason. All you're really doing is solving for x. You can do it any way you want to, so long as you get the right answer. "But wait," I hear you wail, "How do I know if it's the right answer?" Answer: make an intelligent estimate before you start doing the arithmetic.

    You take a deep breath and look at the information they give you, and if it's a medication problem, take a peek at your pharmacology book to see usual dose ranges. If you come up with an answer like, oh, 200 tablets po or 25cc IM, it's a safe bet something's wrong. :) I had a student once that did a calculation for a heparin drip that came up something like 840cc/hour, if memory serves. Even if you don't know heparin from a hole in the wall, if it comes up from the pharmacy in a 500cc bag and the one that's hanging went up at 10:00 pm last night and the I&O shows a total of about 200cc out of it, you can kinda figure that giving more than one of those EVERY HOUR would be a little odd.

    Sometimes doing something silly like changing the names of the medication to something like "M&Ms" or "Gatorade" takes the fear and strangeness out of it and allows you to use the same skills you use when you use a cookbook. If you have to use ten tablespoons of butter (yum) and it comes in 4-tablespoon ministicks, how many sticks of butter do you take out of the refrigerator? If I said, "Six," you'd say, Hmm, that doesn't seem right. See?

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