A nurse is preparing to administer levothyroxine 100 mcg orally to a patient with hypothyroidism. The available levothyroxine is in 50 mcg tablets.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?

Choice A rationale

Full-thickness tissue loss extending to underlying support structures such as muscle, tendon, or bone is characteristic of a stage 4 pressure ulcer, not a stage 312.
Choice B rationale
A stage 3 pressure ulcer involves full-thickness skin loss and may appear as a deep crater. There may be damage to or necrosis of subcutaneous tissue that may extend down to, but not through, underlying fascia. This description matches the statement in Choice B, making it the correct answer.
Choice C rationale
A shallow, ruptured or intact skin blister without slough is more indicative of a stage 2 pressure ulcer. In a stage 2 pressure ulcer, there is partial-thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red-pink wound bed.
Choice D rationale
Unbroken skin with un-blancheable erythema is characteristic of a stage 1 pressure ulcer, not a stage 3. In a stage 1 pressure ulcer, the skin is not broken, but it has redness that does not lighten (or blanch) when you press on it.

Choice A rationale
Withholding the medication until the prescribing provider is available could potentially put the patient at risk, especially if the medication is critical for the patient’s health and well-being.
Choice B rationale
Requesting to speak with the provider who is covering for the prescriber is the most appropriate action in this situation. This allows the nurse to clarify the prescription and ensure the safety of the patient.

Choice C rationale
Contacting the pharmacy to confirm that the dosage is safe to administer could be a part of the process, but it should not be the first step. The nurse should first contact a healthcare provider to discuss the prescription.
Choice D rationale
Informing the charge nurse and administering the usual dose of the medication without first consulting with a healthcare provider could potentially put the patient at risk.