Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A prescription for a 5-year-old reads amoxicillin of ¼ a 500 mg tablet every 8 hours for 5 days. The pharmacy stocks amoxicillin in both a chewable 125 mg tablet and suspension. What should you do?
A. Dispense either a chewable tablet or liquid form of the medication.
Dispense either a chewable tablet or liquid form of the medication: Even though alternatives exist, dispensing a different form without prescriber authorization may lead to dosing inconsistencies or legal concerns. Proper protocol requires confirmation.
B. Dispense the medication as written, breaking the tablets prior to dispensing them
Dispense the medication as written, breaking the tablets prior to dispensing them: Splitting a 500 mg tablet into quarters may not ensure accurate dosing, especially in a child. Tablets may not split evenly, and not all are scored or safe to divide.
C. Dispense the medication as written, instructing the parent to break the tablets into four pieces.
Dispense the medication as written, instructing the parent to break the tablets into four pieces: This puts responsibility on the caregiver to split tablets into exact quarters, which can lead to dosing errors. It is unsafe and inappropriate for pediatric medication.
D. Consult with the pharmacist or authorized prescriber before changing the form of the medication
Consult with the pharmacist or authorized prescriber before changing the form of the medication: The safest and most appropriate action is to confirm any modifications to a prescription. For pediatric patients, ensuring accurate dosage form and administration requires provider consultation.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - Dosage calculation proctored exam (hellen fluid college). Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
A. Dispense either a chewable tablet or liquid form of the medication: Even though alternatives exist, dispensing a different form without prescriber authorization may lead to dosing inconsistencies or legal concerns. Proper protocol requires confirmation.
B. Dispense the medication as written, breaking the tablets prior to dispensing them: Splitting a 500 mg tablet into quarters may not ensure accurate dosing, especially in a child. Tablets may not split evenly, and not all are scored or safe to divide.
C. Dispense the medication as written, instructing the parent to break the tablets into four pieces: This puts responsibility on the caregiver to split tablets into exact quarters, which can lead to dosing errors. It is unsafe and inappropriate for pediatric medication.
D. Consult with the pharmacist or authorized prescriber before changing the form of the medication: The safest and most appropriate action is to confirm any modifications to a prescription. For pediatric patients, ensuring accurate dosage form and administration requires provider consultation.
Similar Questions
Find the total volume to administer:
Ordered: NS 21 gtt/min over 8 h via 10 gtt/mL tubing
Full Explanation
Calculation:
Given values:
Flow rate = 21 gtt/min
Infusion time = 8 hours
Drop factor = 10 gtt/mL
- Convert the infusion time from hours to minutes.
Infusion time in minutes = 8 hours × 60 minutes/hour
= 480 minutes.
- Calculate the total volume in milliliters (mL).
Total Volume (mL) = (Flow rate (gtt/min) × Time (min)) / Drop factor (gtt/mL)
= (21 gtt/min × 480 min) / 10 gtt/mL
= 10080 / 10
= 1008 mL.
Twenty-four correctly written as a Roman numeral is
A. XXIIII.
XXIIII: While this form was used in ancient times, it is now considered incorrect by modern Roman numeral standards. Roman numerals should follow subtractive notation, where 4 is written as IV, not IIII.
B. XXIV.
XXIV: This is the correct modern Roman numeral for 24. It combines 20 (XX) and 4 (IV) using the proper subtractive rule for the numeral 4.
C. Xxiiii
Xxiiii: Roman numerals must be written in uppercase to be considered correct. This option also uses an outdated form (IIII for 4) and mixes cases.
D. xixv
xixv: This is not a valid Roman numeral. It incorrectly places symbols and uses lowercase letters, violating both formatting and value rules.
Full Explanation
A. XXIIII: While this form was used in ancient times, it is now considered incorrect by modern Roman numeral standards. Roman numerals should follow subtractive notation, where 4 is written as IV, not IIII.
B. XXIV: This is the correct modern Roman numeral for 24. It combines 20 (XX) and 4 (IV) using the proper subtractive rule for the numeral 4.
C. Xxiiii: Roman numerals must be written in uppercase to be considered correct. This option also uses an outdated form (IIII for 4) and mixes cases.
D. xixv: This is not a valid Roman numeral. It incorrectly places symbols and uses lowercase letters, violating both formatting and value rules.
Mr. Anderson received a total of 45.25 g of a medication over 5 days. He received 4 doses per day. How much medication per dose did he receive? (round to nearest hundredth)
A. 2.30 g
B. 9.20g
C. 9.15 g
D. 2.26 g
Calculation: Calculate the total number of doses the patient received. Total doses = 4 doses/day × 5 days = 20 doses. Total amount of medication received = 45.25 g. Calculate the amount of medication per dose. Amount per dose = Total amount (g) / Total number of doses = 45.25 g / 20 doses = 2.2625 g. Round the answer to the nearest hundredth. = 2.26 g.
Full Explanation
Calculation:
- Calculate the total number of doses the patient received.
Total doses = 4 doses/day × 5 days
= 20 doses.
Total amount of medication received = 45.25 g.
- Calculate the amount of medication per dose.
Amount per dose = Total amount (g) / Total number of doses
= 45.25 g / 20 doses
= 2.2625 g.
- Round the answer to the nearest hundredth.
= 2.26 g.