Final answer:
One of the most serious potential consequences of a math error made by a healthcare professional is administering an incorrect dosage of medication, which can have harmful effects on the patient. Using the basic formula to calculate a drug dosage involves determining the appropriate amount of medication based on weight and concentration. Examples of serious consequences of math errors in healthcare include administering too high or too low of a dosage, as well as providing incorrect dilutions or concentrations.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the most serious potential consequences of a healthcare professional making a math error at work is administering an incorrect dosage of medication. This can have harmful effects on the patient, ranging from ineffectiveness to serious complications or even death.
An example of using the basic formula to calculate a drug dosage is determining the amount of medication to administer based on weight and concentration. For example, if a patient weighs 60 kilograms and the concentration of the medication is 50 mg/mL, the calculation would be (60 kg * X mg/kg) = (X mL * 50 mg/mL), where X is the desired dose in milligrams.
Three examples of serious consequences of math errors in healthcare include administering too high of a dosage, which can result in overdoses and toxicity, administering too low of a dosage, which may be ineffective in treating the condition, and providing incorrect dilutions or concentrations, which can lead to inaccurate dosages and potentially harmful effects.