A nurse is preparing to administer aspirin 650 mg PO. Available is aspirin 325 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Choice A reason: Administering 0.5 tablets would result in a subtherapeutic dose of 162.5 mg. This would be insufficient to achieve the desired analgesic or antipyretic effect intended by the 650 mg order. It represents a calculation error where the available strength was likely divided by the required dose incorrectly. Choice B reason: Administering 1 tablet would provide only 325 mg of aspirin, which is exactly half of the prescribed amount. This medication error would fail to meet the physician's orders for pain or fever management and could delay the relief of the patient's symptoms due to under-dosing. Choice C reason: Administering 2 tablets provides exactly 650 mg (325 mg x 2 = 650 mg). This correctly fulfills the medication order. In clinical practice, aspirin is frequently supplied in 325 mg increments, making a 650 mg dose a standard two-tablet administration for adult patients requiring non-steroidal anti-inflammatory intervention. Choice D reason: Administering 3 tablets would result in a dose of 975 mg. This exceeds the prescribed amount and increases the risk of adverse effects, such as gastric irritation or salicylate toxicity. Nurses must be precise in dosage calculations to ensure patient safety and adherence to legal medication administration standards.