The nurse is reviewing a client’s morning medication orders. Which of the following orders would prompt the nurse to call the health care provider for order clarification?

  • famotidine 20 mg PO BID
  • haloperidol 15 mg IM q4h prn
  • lithium carbonate 300 mg PO TID
  • amoxicillin 500 mg PO q12h × 7 days
Number 2 is correct.
The typical dosage for haloperidol is 2 – 5 mg IM. This dose is three times the normal dose and should be questioned by the nurse. Options 1, 3, and 4 reflect average dosing ranges for those medications.