Worked example

Oral dose - tablets - practice problem 6

The prescriber orders 37.5 mg of atenolol PO. The pharmacy stocks atenolol in 25 mg tablets.

Ordered dose37.5 mg

On hand25 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: 25 mg per tablet · Want: 37.5 mg

2. Set up dimensional analysis so mg cancels

37.5 mg × ( 1 tablet ÷ 25 mg )

3. Cancel mg and solve

= ( 37.5 × 1 ) ÷ 25 tablet

= 1.5 tablets