Worked example

Oral dose — tablets — practice problem 13

The prescriber orders 3.75 mg of prednisone PO. The pharmacy stocks prednisone in 2.5 mg tablets.

Ordered dose3.75 mg
On hand2.5 mg per tablet

How many tablets should the nurse give?

Answer: 1.5 tablets

Step-by-step solution

1. Identify what you have and what you want
Have: 2.5 mg per tablet · Want: 3.75 mg
2. Set up dimensional analysis so mg cancels
3.75 mg × ( 1 tablet ÷ 2.5 mg )
3. Cancel mg and solve
= ( 3.75 × 1 ) ÷ 2.5 tablet
= 1.5 tablets

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