The prescription reads for guaifenesin 400 mg PO every 4 hours as needed for congestion. Using the label below, how many mL will the nurse administer to the client? Enter a numeric value only. Answer to the nearest whole mL.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

After the first half-life (1 half-life), 50% of the initial drug is left.

200 mg → 100 mg (half is eliminated, 100 mg remains).

After the second half-life (2 half-lives), 50% of the remaining drug is eliminated again.

100 mg → 50 mg (half of 100 mg is eliminated, 50 mg remains).

After the third half-life (3 half-lives), 50% of the remaining drug is eliminated again.

50 mg → 25 mg (half of 50 mg is eliminated, 25 mg remains).

A) Failed communication: While communication errors can lead to medication mistakes, in this specific scenario, there is no mention of poor communication. The prescription is clear, and the issue is more likely related to the accuracy of the prescribed dose or the nurse’s understanding of it, making "failed communication" a less likely source of error in this case.

B) Dose miscalculation: This is the most likely source of potential error. The medication is ordered as 0.9 mg of ondansetron IV, which is an unusual dosage because the typical dose of ondansetron IV for nausea is usually 4 mg or 8 mg. A dose of 0.9 mg is very specific and could easily be miscalculated, especially if the nurse is not familiar with this specific dosage form or if there’s any confusion regarding the intended dose. This could lead to an error either in preparation or administration of the medication.

C) Lack of client education: While client education is important for many aspects of treatment, it’s not directly related to the potential medication error in this scenario. The nurse’s concern should focus on the accuracy of administering the prescribed dose correctly, not the client’s understanding of the medication.

D) Poor distribution practices: Poor distribution practices may affect the availability or storage of medications, but this is not the likely source of error in this case. The concern here is more about the correct dosage and potential for miscalculation, rather than issues related to drug distribution or storage.