Math Problem please help!!!! for job

[charmedpn]

Can anyone please help me figure this problem out. I have to take a nursing test tomorrow for a job and they gave me a study guide and this one problem I don't understand.

It says Digoxin tablets are available in tablets of 0.125 mg, 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg. How would you administer the following doses using the tablets avaliable?

a. 0.0625 mg b. 0.1875 mg c. 1.0 mg d. 0.375 mg

Thank you in advance for your help!!!!

[nursequeenie]

hmmmm.

a. 0.0625 mg = 1/2 tab of the .125

b. 0.1875 mg = 1.5 tabs of the .125

c. 1.0 mg = 2 tabs of the .5

d. 0.375 mg = 1 tab of the .25 and 1 tab of the .125

I have never cut digoxin tabs before, maybe I've just been lucky. I'm not sure its recommended.

[Melina]

The tabs are so small, one might end up with two crumbs. I am not a fan of splitting any pill. Tablets do not contain the exact amount of medication in the two halves. This may or may not be a big deal, depending on the med.

~Mel'

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Not sure about that one...I see why you are confused.

[Divergirl]

To understand the problem better, you might try moving the decimal points 2 places. If you apply this to both sides of the problem you get the same answer. For example

Drug Strength

0.125=12.5

0.25=25

0.5=50

Problems

0.0625 mg=6.25

0.1875 mg=18.75

1 mg=100

0.375=37.5

Answer

6.25 is 1/2 of 12.5 so you need 1/2 tablet of 0.125

18.75 is 1 and 1/2 of 12.5 so you need 1&1/2 tablet of 0.125

100 is 2 of 50 so you need 2 of 0.5

37.5 is (1) of 25 and (1) of 12.5 so you need (1) 0.25 and (1) .0125

I hope this helps and doesn't confuse you more.