A client who weighs 172 pounds receives a prescription for levothyroxine 1.6 mcg/kg/day by mouth (PO). The medication is available in 50 mcg scored tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)

Convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms: Weight (kg) = Weight (pounds) / 2.2 pounds/kg = 172 pounds / 2.2 pounds/kg ≈ 78.18 kg Calculate the prescribed daily dose in micrograms: Daily dose (mcg) = Prescribed dose (mcg/kg/day) x Client's weight (kg) = 1.6 mcg/kg/day x 78.18 kg ≈ 125.088 mcg Calculate the number of tablets to administer: Number of tablets = Desired dose (mcg) / Available dose per tablet (mcg/tablet) = 125.088 mcg / 50 mcg/tablet ≈ 2.50176 tablets Rounding to the nearest tenth: Rounded number of tablets = 2.5 tablets