A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notices the prescription reads 'digoxin 0.25 mg PO daily.' The available supply is digoxin 0.125 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse give?

DOSAGE CALCULATION: Desired dose ÷ Available dose per unit = number of units. 0.25 mg (desired) ÷ 0.125 mg (per tablet) = 2 tablets. VERIFICATION: 2 tablets × 0.125 mg = 0.25 mg ✓. MEDICATION SAFETY CHECKS: Always verify the calculation; if a calculation results in an unusual number of tablets (more than 2-3, or fractions of unscored tablets), double-check — it may signal an error; digoxin is a HIGH-ALERT medication — verify dose, check apical pulse before administration (hold if < 60 bpm), watch for toxicity; THE 'RIGHTS' of medication administration: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation, plus right reason, right response, right to refuse; calculation errors are a leading cause of medication errors — when in doubt, have a second nurse verify, especially for high-alert medications and pediatric doses.