A nurse is preparing to administer lurasidone 120 mg PO for a client who has schizophrenia.

Available is lurasidone 40 mg tablets.

How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?
(Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

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.

Choice A rationale:

Relaxing in a hot tub spa each day is not recommended for MS patients as heat can exacerbate symptoms.

Choice B rationale:

Implementing a schedule to include periods of rest is beneficial as fatigue is a common symptom of MS12.

Choice C rationale:

Waiting to perform difficult tasks until later in the day is not necessarily beneficial as fatigue can occur at any time.

Choice D rationale:

Limiting intake of dairy products is not specifically related to managing MS12.

So, the correct answer is B.