The client is ordered to receive 40 mg of atorvastatin PO daily. In the medication cabinet, you find 10 mg tablets. How many tablets will you administer to the client? (Enter a numerical value only)

A) Evaluation: Evaluation is the phase where the nurse assesses whether the goals or outcomes of the care plan have been met. It involves determining if the interventions provided were effective in achieving the desired outcomes. In this scenario, the nurse is still
gathering information before the action is taken, so evaluation is not the correct phase.

B) Planning: Planning is the phase in the nursing process where the nurse develops a care plan, which includes setting goals and determining interventions based on the client's needs. Although reviewing the medical record and blood glucose level is important for planning the administration of insulin, this is more about gathering data rather than forming a plan of care.

C) Implementation: Implementation refers to the actual delivery of the nursing interventions or actions. In this case, administering the insulin would be part of the implementation phase, but reviewing the medical history and obtaining a fingerstick blood glucose reading are steps taken before implementing the medication.

D) Assessment: The nurse is collecting pertinent information about the client’s condition, including reviewing the medical record and obtaining the blood glucose level. Assessment is the first step in the nursing process and involves gathering information to help guide clinical decisions.

E) Diagnosis: Diagnosis is the phase in which the nurse analyzes the assessment data to identify the client’s health problems or potential risks. While the nurse is collecting data, the diagnosis comes after the assessment phase, when the nurse has enough information to make a clinical judgment about the client's health status.

A) Metoprolol XL: Metoprolol XL (extended-release) should not be crushed. Crushing extended-release formulations can result in the rapid release of the drug, leading to an overdose or adverse effects due to the immediate release of the full dose. The nurse should advise the client to swallow this medication whole.

B) Ibuprofen EC (enteric-coated): Enteric-coated medications should not be crushed. The enteric coating is designed to protect the stomach lining by preventing the medication from being released in the stomach. Crushing the tablet would destroy this protective mechanism and could irritate the stomach lining, leading to discomfort or ulceration.

C) Morphine ER (extended-release): Extended-release formulations of morphine should never be crushed. Crushing extended-release formulations can lead to a potentially fatal overdose because it releases the entire dose of medication at once. This can cause respiratory depression and other life-threatening effects.

D) Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen in its regular tablet form can be safely crushed if needed. Crushing acetaminophen does not affect its effectiveness or safety, and it is a non-extended-release formulation, making it safe for manipulation when necessary, such as for clients with difficulty swallowing. However, it's essential to verify with the specific prescription, as acetaminophen is also available in extended-release formulations, which should not be crushed.