If a nurse is prescribed levothyroxine 0.3 mg PO daily and has levothyroxine 150 mcg/tablet available, how many tablets should be administered?

To determine the correct number of tablets to administer, it's essential to convert the prescribed dose from milligrams (mg) to micrograms (mcg) since the available medication strength is provided in mcg.

The prescribed dose is 0.3 mg. To convert milligrams to micrograms, you use the conversion factor that 1 mg equals 1,000 mcg. Thus, 0.3 mg is equal to:

0.3 mg × 1,000 mcg/mg = 300 mcg.

Now, with the available levothyroxine dosage being 150 mcg per tablet, you can calculate the required number of tablets to provide the 300 mcg needed. This is done by dividing the total micrograms prescribed by the amount per tablet:

300 mcg ÷ 150 mcg/tablet = 2 tablets.

Therefore, the nurse should administer 2 tablets to achieve the correct prescribed dose of levothyroxine. This demonstrates the importance of accurately converting medication dosages to ensure patient safety and effective treatment.