A nurse is preparing to administer buspirone 7.5 mg PO every 12 hr to a client. The amount available is buspirone 15 mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?

(Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

A. Speaking to the provider about adding an MAOI to the current medication regimen: MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors) are typically considered as second- or third-line treatments due to their potential for serious side effects and interactions with other medications. It is not the first-line approach to managing depressive symptoms that have not improved with citalopram alone.

B. Telling the client that the provider will need to change citalopram to a different medication: It's premature to switch medications after only two weeks, as antidepressants often take several weeks to exert their full therapeutic effect. It's essential to allow adequate time for the current medication regimen to work before considering a change.

C. Explaining that antidepressants often take several weeks to be fully effective: This is the most appropriate action. It's important for the nurse to educate the client about the delayed onset of action of antidepressants and reassure them that improvement may take time. Adjustments to the dosage or switching to a different medication would typically be considered if there is no improvement after a sufficient trial period.

D. Recommending a sleep study be done on the client: While sleep disturbances are common in depression, recommending a sleep study would be premature at this stage. It's essential to address the underlying depressive symptoms first, as they may contribute to the sleep disturbance.

A. Pharmacists: Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who are highly knowledgeable about medications, including their indications, dosages, contraindications, interactions, and administration routes. They play a crucial role in ensuring safe medication administration by providing accurate information and counseling to both healthcare providers and patients.

B. Published journals: Published journals contain peer-reviewed articles and research studies on various aspects of medication administration, including best practices, guidelines, new developments, and evidence-based recommendations. Healthcare professionals often refer to reputable journals to stay updated on the latest information and advancements in medication administration.

C. Physicians Desk Reference (PDR): The Physicians Desk Reference is a comprehensive reference book that provides information on prescription drugs, including their indications, dosages, side effects, and interactions. It is commonly used by healthcare providers as a reliable source of medication information to support safe prescribing and administration practices.

D. Pharmaceutical sales representatives: While pharmaceutical sales representatives may provide information about specific medications, their primary role is to promote and market pharmaceutical products. While they may offer valuable information about medication characteristics, their input may be biased toward promoting specific products rather than providing comprehensive and unbiased information about medication administration. Therefore, they are not typically considered acceptable references for safe medication administration.