The physician has ordered Zantac elixir 75 mg PO bid for heartburn.

The medication is supplied in 15 mg/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer? (Shade CUP #1 to correct dose & LABEL CORRECTLY TO RECEIVE CREDIT)

Choice A rationale

A stat medication order signifies an immediate and urgent administration of the drug, typically within 30 minutes of the order. This is for critical situations where delay could significantly impact patient outcome, requiring prompt action rather than nurse's judgment for necessity.

Choice B rationale

A PRN (pro re nata) medication order means "as needed.”. This type of order grants the nurse professional discretion to administer the medication based on their assessment of the patient's condition and the specific criteria outlined in the order, such as pain level or fever.

Choice C rationale

A scheduled medication order involves administering the drug at regularly prescribed intervals, such as every 8 hours or once daily. The timing is predetermined, and the nurse's primary role is adherence to the schedule, with less independent judgment regarding administration necessity.

Choice D rationale

A single-dose order is for a medication to be given only once at a specific time. This is often used for preoperative medications or diagnostic procedures. Like scheduled orders, the timing is set, and the nurse's judgment about the necessity of administration is not the primary factor.

Step 1 is to locate the medication label. It is stated that Label #4 contains SoluMedrol.

Step 2 is to identify the concentration of SoluMedrol on Label #4. Assuming Label #4 indicates SoluMedrol 125 mg/2 mL (This is a common concentration; specific label details are not provided in the prompt, so a typical concentration is assumed for calculation purposes).

Step 3 is to calculate the volume to be administered. Volume (mL) = (Ordered dose ÷ Available concentration). Volume (mL) = (75 mg ÷ 125 mg/2 mL). Volume (mL) = (75 mg ÷ 125 mg) × 2 mL. Volume (mL) = 0.6 × 2 mL. Volume (mL) = 1.2 mL. The nurse will administer 1.2 mL.