Chapter 05: Oral Medications

Mulholland: The Nurse, The Math, The Meds, 3rd Edition

ESSAY
1. Ordered: carvedilol 12.5 mg PO daily, for a patient with heart failure.

Available:

a. What is the available concentration?

b. What is the trade name for this medication?
How many tablets will the nurse prepare?
c. Estimated dose:
d. DA equation:
e. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. 6.25 mg per tablet

b. Coreg
c. Estimate: 2 tablets (12.5 = 2

6.25)

d. Tablet =
e. Equation is balanced. Estimate supports answer.
2. Ordered: Nitrostat 0.4 mg SL stat, for a patient with chest pain.

Available:

a. What is the apothecary equivalent unit of measurement, as shown on the label, for 0.4 mg?

b. What instructions must the nurse give the patient before administering a tablet by this
route?
ANS:

a. gr
b. To hold and dissolve tablet under the tongue. Do not chew.
3. Ordered: dexamethasone 500 mcg PO bid, for a patient with a severe inflammatory condition.

Available:

a. What is the trade name for this medication?

b. What concentration is provided?
How many tablets will the nurse prepare?
c. Estimated dose:
d. DA equation:
e. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Decadron
b. 0.25 mg per tablet
c. Estimate: 2 tablets (500 mcg = 0.5 mg = 2

0.25 mg)

d. Tablet =
e. Equation is balanced. Estimate supports answer.
4. Ordered: Lanoxin 0.25 mg PO daily, for a patient with heart failure.

Available:

a. What is the generic name of this medication?

How many tablets will the nurse prepare?
b. Estimated dose:

c. DA equation:
d. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Digoxin
b. Estimate: 2 tablets (0.25 mg = 250 mcg = 2

125 mcg)

c. Tablet =
d. Equation is balanced. Estimate supports answer.
5. Ordered: ranitidine HCl syrup 75 mg PO daily.

Available:

a. What is the trade name of this medication?

b. What is the concentration?
How many milliliters will the nurse prepare?
c. Estimated dose:
d. DA equation:
e. Evaluation:
Shade in the medicine cup to the nearest measurable dose.

ANS:

a. Zantac
b. 15 mg per mL
c. Estimate: 5 times more than 1 mL (75 mg = 15

5)

d. mL =
e. Equation is balanced. Estimate supports answer.

6. Ordered: levothyroxine sodium 100 mcg PO daily, for a patient with hypothyroidism.

Available:

a. What is the trade name for this medication?

How many tablets will the nurse prepare?
b. Estimated dose:
c. DA equation:
d. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Synthroid
b. Estimate: 2 tablets (50 mcg

2 = 100 mcg)

c. Tablet =
d. Equation is balanced. Estimate supports answer.
7. Ordered: nystatin oral suspension 250,000 units PO swish and swallow tid, for a patient with

oral candidiasis. Available:

a. Are units and mg interchangeable?

How many milliliters will the nurse prepare?
b. Estimated dose:
c. DA equation:
d. Evaluation:
Indicate the dose on the syringe with an arrow.
Note: This medication will be measured with an oral syringe and administered orally.

ANS:

a. No
b. Two and one-half times; 1 mL

2.5 mL

c. mL =
d. Equation is balanced. Estimate supports answer.

8. Ordered: dexamethasone 500 mcg PO bid, for a patient with a severe inflammatory condition.

Available:

a. What is the trade name for this medication?

How many tablets will the nurse prepare?
b. Estimated dose:
c. DA equation:
d. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Decadron
b. Estimate: 2 tablets (500 mcg = 0.5 mg = 2

0.25 mg)

c. Tablet =
d. Equation is balanced. Estimate supports answer.
9. Ordered: prochlorperazine syrup 12 mg PO tid pc, for a patient with complaints of nausea.

Available:

a. What is the trade name for this medication?

How many milliliters will the nurse prepare?
b. Estimated dose:
c. DA equation:
d. Evaluation:
Shade in the nearest measurable dose on the medicine cup. Indicate with an arrow the
additional amount to be added with the syringe.

ANS:

a. Compazine
b. Estimate: More than 2 5 mL (more than 10 mL)
c.
d. Equation is balanced. Estimate supports answer.

10. Ordered: nifedipine extended release tab 0.06 g PO daily.

Available:

How many tablets will the nurse prepare?

a. Estimated dose:
b. DA equation:
c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate: 2 tablets (0.06 g = 60 mg = 2

30 mg)

b. Tablet =
c. Equation is balanced. Estimate supports answer.
11. Ordered: raloxifene HCl 0.06 g PO daily, for a patient with osteoporosis.

Available:

a. Estimate:
b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate: same; 1000 mg = 1 g

b. DA verification: # of tabs:
c. Evaluation: Equation is balanced, estimate supports answer.

12. Ordered: OxyFast 25 mg po q 12 hr prn, for pain.

Available:

a. Estimate: more or less than drug concentration?

b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate: more
b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation: EEquation is balanced, estimate supports answer.
13. Ordered: triazolam 0.25 mg po HS stat, for an agitated patient.

Available:

a. Estimate:
b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate: more; 2 tab

b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation: Equation is balanced, estimate supports answer.
14. Ordered: Meclomen 0.1 g tid with full glass water, for a patient with arthritis.

Remain upright for an hour after taking.

Available:

a. Estimate:
b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate: more; 2 cap (1000 mg = 1 g)

b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation: Equation is balanced, estimate supports answer.
15. Ordered: Methylphenidate HCl tablets 10,000 mcg with breakfast and lunch, for a patient with

narcolepsy.
Available:

a. Estimate:
b. DA verification:

c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate: more; 2 tab (1000 mcg = 1 mg), 5 mg = 5000 mcg x 2 = 10,000 mcg

b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation: Equation is balanced, estimate supports answer.
16. Ordered: levothyroxine tablets 250 mcg po daily in AM 30 minutes a.c. on empty stomach, for

a patient with hypothyroidism.

Available:

a. Estimate:
b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate: more; 2.5 tab (1000 mcg = 1 mg)

b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation: Equation is balanced. Estimate supports answer, levothroid tablets are scored
and can be cut.
17. Ordered: Vitamin B12 2.5 mg SL twice a week as a dietary supplement, for a patient with a

nutritional deficiency.
Available: Vit B12 2500 mcg sublingual tablets

a. Estimate:
b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate: 1 tab (2500 mcg = 2.5 mg)

b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation: Equation is balanced, estimate supports answer.
18. Ordered: Prozac: 30 mg PO daily in AM.

Available:

a. Estimate:
b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate: 1 more than drug concentration (7.5 mL per dose)

b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation: Equation is balanced, estimate supports answer.

19. Ordered: Lactulose solution 5000 mg by mouth at bedtime, for a patient with constipation.

Available:

a. Estimate:
b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate:

of 15 mL (5000 mg = 5 g) (ANS: 7.5 mL per dose)

b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation: Equation is balanced, estimate supports answer.
20. Ordered: Tagamet (cimetidine) 800 mg PO daily at bedtime, for a patient with gastric reflux

and heartburn.
Available:

a. Estimate:

b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation:
ANS:

a. Estimate: more; about 1.5 times more (13.3 mL per dose)

b. DA verification:
c. Evaluation: Equation is balanced, estimate supports answer.