A nurse is preparing to administer calcium carbonate 3.9 g PO daily in equally divided doses every 12 hr Available is calcium carbonate 650 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Calculation: Convert the total daily dose from grams (g) to milligrams (mg). Total daily dose = 3.9 g × 1000 mg/g = 3900 mg/day. Determine the dose per administration. The total daily dose is divided into equally divided doses every 12 hr, which means 2 doses per day. Dose per administration = 3900 mg/day / 2 doses/day = 1950 mg/dose. Available strength of each tablet = 650 mg/tablet. Calculate the number of tablets to administer per dose. Number of tablets per dose = Dose per administration (mg) / Available strength (mg/tablet) = 1950 mg / 650 mg/tablet = 3 tablets.