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In the scenario where a patient is prescribed 75 mg of medication, and only 50 mg tablets are available, how many tablets should be administered?
1 tablet
1.5 tablets
2 tablets
0.75 tablets
The correct answer is: 1.5 tablets
To determine the number of tablets to administer based on the prescribed dosage, it’s important to calculate how the available tablet strength corresponds to the prescribed amount. The patient needs 75 mg of medication, and since only 50 mg tablets are available, dividing the total dose by the amount in one tablet provides the required number of tablets. In this case, 75 mg divided by 50 mg per tablet equals 1.5 tablets. This means that the nurse should administer one full tablet (50 mg) and half of another tablet (25 mg) to achieve the exact required dose of 75 mg. This dosage calculation is crucial in ensuring patient safety and effective medication administration, as delivering the correct amount of medication is vital for therapeutic outcomes.