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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
To find the milliliters per hour, you need to calculate the following:
- The patient's weight in kilograms
- The dose of Principen in milligrams
- The infusion rate in milliliters per hour using the formula: Infusion rate (mL/h) = (Total volume (mL) x Flow factor (gt/mL)) / Time (min) x 60 min/h
First, convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2:
22 lb / 2.2 = 10 kg
Next, multiply the patient's weight by the dose of Principen per kilogram to get the total dose in milligrams:
10 kg x 25 mg/kg = 250 mg
Then, use the formula for infusion rate to find how many milliliters per hour the IV pump should deliver:
Infusion rate (mL/h) = (Total volume (mL) x Flow factor (gt/mL)) / Time (min) x 60 min/h
Since the medication is prepared in 50 mL of solution and the infusion time is 30 minutes, plug in these values into the formula:
Infusion rate (mL/h) = (50 mL x 1 gt/mL) / 30 min x 60 min/h
Simplify and solve for the infusion rate:
Infusion rate (mL/h) = 100 mL/h
Therefore, the nurse should administer **100 mL/h** to infuse Principen 250 mg over 30 minutes.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
To find how much medication to administer, you need to calculate the following:
- The volume of diphenhydramine in milliliters
- The infusion time in minutes
First, divide the dose of diphenhydramine by the concentration to get the volume in milliliters:
25 mg / 50 mg/mL = 0.5 mL diphenhydramine should be diluted in 10 to 20 mL of normal saline and infused over at least 2 minutes.
Therefore, the nurse should administer **0.5 mL** of diphenhydramine diluted in 10 to 20 mL of normal saline over **at least 2 minutes**.
The nurse should administer this medication **as soon as possible** after receiving the order and the medication from the pharmacy, as STAT means immediately or urgently. The nurse should also monitor the client for signs of improvement or adverse reactions.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today