A nurse is preparing to administer haloperidol lactate 7 mg PO to a client who has psychosis.

Available is haloperidol lactate 2 mg/mL oral solution.

How many mL should the nurse plan to administer? (Round to the nearest tenth.

Use a leading zero if it applies.

Step 1 is to determine the amount of lorazepam in milligrams that the nurse needs to administer, which is 1 mg. Step 2 is to calculate the volume of lorazepam oral solution needed to deliver this dose. This is done by dividing the required dose by the concentration of the solution. So, (1 mg ÷ 2 mg/mL) = 0.5 mL.

The correct answer is choice C. Apply gentle pressure with a finger to the tragus of the ear.

Choice A rationale:

Chilling the medication prior to administration is not recommended. Cold ear drops can cause dizziness or discomfort when instilled into the ear. It is generally advised to warm the drops to body temperature by holding the bottle in your hands for a few minutes before administration.

Choice B rationale:

Holding the dropper against the ear canal while instilling the medication is incorrect. The dropper should be held above the ear canal to avoid contamination and injury. Touching the dropper to the ear canal can introduce bacteria and cause infection.

Choice C rationale:

Applying gentle pressure with a finger to the tragus of the ear helps to facilitate the flow of the medication into the ear canal. This action helps to ensure that the medication reaches the affected area effectively.

Choice D rationale:

Straightening the external auditory canal by pulling it down and back is incorrect for adults. For adults, the correct method is to pull the ear up and back to straighten the ear canal. Pulling it down and back is the method used for children.