math but not math

Published

Hello everyone this is my 1st post and not really sure if I'm posting this in the correct place, but here goes...

Question 1:

Order: Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg sublingual every 5 minutes x3 as needed for chest pain. Pharmacy sends you Nitroglycerin 400mcg tablets. How many tablets will you adminster?

Question 2:

Order: Tetracycline 250mg orally 4 times a day for infection. Pharmacy sends you Tetracycline 500mg tablets. How many tablets do you adminster in a dose?

O.K. First off in question 1 I know the conversion of 0.4mg=400mcg=1 tab...but the x3 and the lack of "in a dose" confuses me into thinking the answer is 3...which my professor says is 1!!!

Obviously question 2 is 0.5 tablets in a dose...Am I crazy or is part of the question missing??

thanks anyone can PM me my test is on Tuesday...:banghead::confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

For question one you would give one tablet each time you administer the medication.

For qestion two, you do not need any additional information and you had the correct answer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks my professor just emailed me at the same time stating that it is always one dose unless specified by the MD...:clown:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Correctional Nursing, Orthopediacs.

I believe the X3 is the amount you can give period. You give it every 5 minutes upto 3 times. It has nothing to do with the math calculation. You are figuring what each dose is. Nitroglycerin is given three times in a five minute intervals between each dose for chest pain (angina).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

You also posted these questions on The Nursing Math Thread and I posted answers to both your questions for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you, daytonite. That's all I needed was the meaning of x3 and the fact there was not an "in a dose" in the ques. Math test in 1.5 hrs. Thanks to all

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion