Question

The risk of a dosage error is minimized by writing seven milligrams as:

a) 0.7 mg
b) 7 mg (seven)
c) 7.0 mcg
d) 7 gm

Answer 1

The most accurate way to minimize dosage errors when writing seven milligrams is by documenting it as 7 mg (seven). This practice ensures clarity and helps prevent potential mistakes in medication dosages.

Step-by-step explanation:

The risk of a dosage error is minimized by writing seven milligrams as 7 mg (seven). This practice helps avoid confusion between similarly looking numbers and ensures clarity in the dosage instructions.

Converting Units

To convert from one unit to another in medication dosages, knowing the equivalent values is crucial. If a nurse has 50 mg aspirin tablets but needs to administer 0.2 g of aspirin to a patient, they must recognize that 0.2 g equals 200 mg, which means they would need to give the patient 4 tablets.

Significance of Placeholders

When dealing with units and measurements, especially in the medical field, the precision and accuracy of the numbers are vital. In exact measurements, like 1570 g, the zero acts as a placeholder to ensure the accuracy of the reading, indicating that the value has been estimated to the tens place.