Which numeric form is appropriate, according to the Joint Commission?
3.0
0.30
0.03
0.3
Calculate all drug dosages by body surface area.
The Correct Answer is D
This numeric form is appropriate, according to the Joint Commission, because it does not use a trailing zero after a decimal point, which is a common cause of medication errors and should be avoided. A trailing zero may be misread or misinterpreted as a larger dose or omited altogether, resulting in a 10-fold overdose or underdose, respectively. For example, when prescriptions have been writen for "Coumadin 1.0 mg," patients have received 10 mg in error¹². Therefore, the Joint Commission requires that a trailing zero may be used only when required to demonstrate the level of precision of the value being reported, such as for laboratory results, imaging studies that report the size of lesions, or catheter/tube sizes. It may not be used in medication orders or other medication-related documentation.
The other options are not appropriate numeric forms because:
a) 3.0 uses a trailing zero after a decimal point, which poses a risk of confusion or error.
b) 0.30 uses a trailing zero after a decimal point, which poses a risk of confusion or error.
c) 0.03 is not equivalent to 0.3, as it is 10 times smaller.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Subcutaneous injection is the usual route for giving insulin because it allows the medication to be absorbed slowly and steadily into the bloodstream. Subcutaneous injection involves inserting a needle into the faty layer of tissue under the skin, usually in the abdomen, upper arm, thigh, or butock.
Intramuscular injection is not the usual route for giving insulin because it may cause rapid and unpredictable absorption of the medication, which can lead to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Intramuscular injection involves inserting a needle into the muscle tissue, usually in the deltoid, vastus lateralis, or ventrogluteal area.
Intraosseous injection is not the usual route for giving insulin because it is reserved for emergency situations when intravenous access is not available. Intraosseous injection involves inserting a needle into the bone marrow, usually in the tibia or humerus.
Intradermal injection is not the usual route for giving insulin because it is mainly used for diagnostic tests, such as tuberculin skin test or allergy test. Intradermal injection involves inserting a needle into the dermis, which is the layer of skin just below the epidermis, usually in the forearm or upper back.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The nurse should add 250 mL of water to the formula to dilute it to half strength.
This answer is correct because it is based on a simple ratio and proportion calculation. The nurse can set up a proportion as follows:
250 mL / 1 = x mL / 0.5
Cross-multiplying and solving for x gives:
x = 500 mL
Therefore, the nurse should add 250 mL of water to the formula to make a total volume of 500 mL, which is half the concentration of the original formula.
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