Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 81%
Simulated
A nurse is receiving a telephone prescription for a client and documents it as metformin 500 PO BID. Which of the following elements should the nurse identify is missing from the prescription?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The correct answer is A: Dosage. In the prescription "metformin 500 PO BID," metformin is the medication, 500 is the dosage, PO means by mouth (route), and BID stands for twice a day (time/frequency). The missing element is the specific dosage form (e.g., tablets, milliliters) of metformin, which is crucial for accurate administration. Choices B, C, and D are all included in the prescription, making them incorrect. Choices E, F, and G are not applicable in this context. Therefore, the nurse should identify the missing element as the dosage to ensure safe and effective medication administration.