33. How many bottles of NPH insulin would a patient need for a 60 day supply, given the following directions? Inject subcutaneously 23 units every morning and 17 units in the evening.
Answer: B
A patient would need 3 bottles of NPH insulin for a 60 day supply.
To calculate the total number of units of NPH insulin needed for 60 days, the patient requires 23 units in the morning and 17 units in the evening, totaling 40 units per day. Over 60 days, this amounts to 2400 units, which translates to 3 bottles, assuming each bottle contains 1000 units.
A) 2
Option A is incorrect because two bottles would only provide a total of 2000 units (2 x 1000 units), which is insufficient for the 2400 units required over the 60-day period.
B) 3
Option B is correct as it accounts for the total requirement of 2400 units. With each bottle containing 1000 units, three bottles would provide the necessary amount, confirming that this is the correct choice.
C) 12
Option C is incorrect because twelve bottles would provide a total of 12000 units (12 x 1000 units), which is excessively more than what the patient needs over the 60 days, indicating a misunderstanding of the daily dosage calculation.
D) 24
Option D is incorrect as twenty-four bottles would yield a total of 24000 units (24 x 1000 units), far exceeding the patient's requirement. This option reflects a miscalculation of the necessary supply based on the prescribed dosage.
Conclusion
The calculation confirms that 3 bottles of NPH insulin are required for a 60-day supply, as this meets the patient's total need of 2400 units. Other options either underestimate or grossly overestimate the required supply, failing to appropriately align with the daily dosage provided in the directions.