The physician orders a grain and a half of Seconal to help a client sl

The physician orders a grain and a half of Seconal to help a client sleep. The label on the medica-tion bottle reads Seconal 100 mg. How many capsules should the nurse give the client?

1.
2. 1
3.
4. 2

ANSWER

ANS: 2
To calculate this problem, the nurse should first convert the measurements to one system. Be-cause 1 grain = 60 mg, the nurse may multiply 1 by 60 to equal 90 mg. The nurse may then use the following formula for calculating a drug dosage:
90 mg
100 mg x 1 capsule = 0.9 capsules
Because 0.9 of a capsule cannot be administered, it is rounded to 1 capsule. The nurse will ad-minister 1 capsule.
Options 1 and 3 are not correct dosage calculations. Furthermore, capsules cannot be halved.
Option 4 is not a correct dosage calculation.