For a levothyroxine dosage of 0.175 mg, if 88 mcg tablets are available, how many tablets should the nurse administer?

To determine the correct number of tablets to administer for a levothyroxine dosage of 0.175 mg when 88 mcg tablets are available, it's essential to convert the dosage from milligrams to micrograms, as the available tablet strength is measured in micrograms.

First, convert 0.175 mg to micrograms. Since 1 mg is equal to 1000 mcg, you calculate as follows:

0.175 mg × 1000 mcg/mg = 175 mcg

Next, you need to determine how many 88 mcg tablets are needed to reach a total of 175 mcg. This is done by dividing the total required dose (175 mcg) by the strength of each tablet (88 mcg):

175 mcg ÷ 88 mcg/tablet = 1.98 tablets

Since you cannot administer a fraction of a tablet in a clinical setting, you round 1.98 up to the nearest whole number, which is 2 tablets. Therefore, the nurse should administer 2 tablets to meet the required dosage of 0.175 mg of levothyroxine.

This calculation highlights the importance of correctly converting units and properly rounding doses in medication administration to ensure safe and