For a client receiving amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium (Augmentin) 500 mg every 8 hours, how many tablets should the nurse administer if each tablet contains 250 mg of amoxicillin?

In determining the correct number of tablets to administer, it’s essential to understand the total dosage required and the dosage provided by each tablet. The prescribed medication is amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium (Augmentin) at a dosage of 500 mg every 8 hours.

Each tablet contains 250 mg of amoxicillin. To find out how many tablets are needed to achieve the 500 mg required dose, divide the total dose by the amount in one tablet:

500 mg (desired dose) ÷ 250 mg (per tablet) = 2 tablets.

Therefore, the correct answer is to administer 2 tablets to meet the 500 mg dosage requirement per dose. This calculation is straightforward as it directly relates to the amount of medication in each tablet and ensures that the patient receives the correct amount of the drug as prescribed.