47. 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 determine the total number of bottles needed, first calculate the daily insulin requirement. 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. Knowing that one bottle of NPH insulin typically contains 1000 units, the patient would need 2.4 bottles, which rounds up to 3 bottles.
A) 2
Option A is incorrect because if the patient only had 2 bottles, that would provide a total of 2000 units (2 x 1000), which is insufficient for the total requirement of 2400 units over 60 days.
B) 3
Option B is correct as it accurately reflects the calculation of needing 3 bottles to meet the total requirement of 2400 units. Each bottle contains 1000 units, so 3 bottles provide 3000 units, which covers the needed amount.
C) 12
Option C is incorrect. While it might seem that 12 bottles could provide a large quantity of insulin, it far exceeds the necessary total of 2400 units. This option significantly overestimates the requirement.
D) 24
Option D is also incorrect as it suggests an even larger surplus of insulin. With 24 bottles, the patient would receive 24,000 units, which is excessively more than what is needed for the 60-day supply.
Conclusion
The correct answer is 3 bottles, as it meets the precise requirement of 2400 units for the specified duration. All other options either underrepresent or overestimate the necessary amount of insulin, highlighting the importance of accurate calculations in medication management.