Question

The physician orders magnesium oxide 400 mg oral three times a day for a patient with hypomagnesaemia. Magnesium oxide is available in 200-mg tablets. How many tablets would the nurse administer with each dose?

Answer 1

The ordered dose is = 400 mg three times a day

The available tablets = 200 mg

We need to find out how many tablets need to be given with each dose:

• 1 tablet = 200 mg
• 'x' tablet = 400 mg
• x = 400 mg x 1 tablet / 200 mg
• x = 400 x 1 tablet /200
• x = 2 tablets.

So the nurse has to administer 2 tablets of magnesium oxide with each dose. So the nurse with have to administer 2 tablets to the patienet 3 times a day.