Dosage Calculations for Nurses
Exam Answer Key
Course Introduction
Dosage Calculations for Nurses is a foundational course designed to equip nursing students with the mathematical skills necessary to accurately calculate medication dosages in clinical settings. Emphasizing patient safety, the course covers key concepts such as unit conversions, measurement systems, calculation of oral, injectable, and intravenous medications, as well as pediatric and geriatric dosage adjustments. Through practical examples and problem-solving exercises, students will build confidence in their ability to interpret medication orders, perform critical calculations, and minimize the risk of medication errors in diverse healthcare environments.
Recommended Textbook
Calculation of Drug Dosages A Work Text 10th Edition by Ogden
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16 Chapters
474 Verified Questions
474 Flashcards
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2
Chapter 1: Fractions
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Sample Questions
Q1) 3 1/2 ÷ 1 1/3 = ____________________ Answer: 2 5/8
Q2) 1 5/6 + 3 1/3 + ____________________ Answer: 5 1/6
Q3) 3/10 + 3/5 + ____________________ Answer: 9/10
Q4) 6 1/2 - 1 3/4 = ____________________ Answer: 4 3/4
Q5) 4 3/10 ÷ 1 3/4 = ____________________ Answer: 2 16/35
Q6) 11/12 - 1/2 = ____________________ Answer: 5/12
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3
Chapter 2: Decimals
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Sample Questions
Q1) 258.7 ÷ 100 = ____________________ Answer: 2.587
Q2) 16.75 - 4.6 = ____________________ Answer: 12.15
Q3) 1.1 + 50.6 + 30.9 + 6.75 = ____________________ Answer: 89.35
Q4) 17.5 * 10 = ____________________ Answer: 175
Q5) 4.4 ÷ 0.5 = ____________________ Answer: 8.8
Q6) 0.662 * 1000 = ____________________ Answer: 662
Q7) 354.6 ÷ 1000 = ____________________ Answer: 0.3546
Q8) 5.32 * 67.9 = _________ Answer: 361.228
Q9) 110.5 ÷ 7.52 = ____________________ Answer: 14.69414894
Answer: 24.125 Page 4
Q10) 120.005 - 95.88 = ____________________
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Page 5
Chapter 3: Percents
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Sample Questions
Q1) Change 1/4 to a percent. ____________________ Answer: 25%
Q2) What is 15% of 1085.6? _____________________ Answer: 162.84
Q3) What percent of 150 is 75? ____________________ Answer: 50%
Q4) What percent of 400 is 125? ____________________ Answer: 31.25%
Q5) Change 7/16 to a percent. ____________________ Answer: 43 3/4%
Q6) Change 44% to a proper fraction. ____________________ Answer: 11/25
Q7) Change 0.77 to a percent. ____________________ Answer: 77%
Q8) Change 1.57 to a percent. ____________________ Answer: 157%
Q9) What is 25% of 75? ____________________ Answer: 18.75
Q10) Change
____________________ Answer:
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Page 7
Chapter 4: Ratios
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Sample Questions
Q1) Change 7:20 to a decimal number. ____________________
Q2) Change 15:75 to a percent. ____________________
Q3) Change 0.12 to a ratio. ____________________
Q4) Change 3/10:2/5 to a fraction. ____________________
Q5) Change 2/7% to a ratio. ____________________
Q6) Change 1/7 ÷ 4/21 to a ratio. ____________________
Q7) Change 27% to a ratio. ____________________
Q8) Change 44:88 to a percent. ____________________
Q9) Change 3/8 ÷ 5/12 to a ratio. ____________________
Q10) Change 35:14 to a decimal number. ____________________
Q11) Change 1.66 to a ratio. ____________________
Q12) Change 25:100 to a fraction. ____________________
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8
Chapter 5: Proportions
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Sample Questions
Q1) x : 0.54 :: 0.6 : 0.8 ____________________
Q2) 25 : 40 :: 75.5 : x ____________________
Q3) 16 : x :: 45 : 15____________________
Q4) x : 1/4 :: 3/4: 32 ____________________
Q5) 30 : 600 :: x : 150 ____________________
Q6) 33% : 66 :: x% : 15 ____________________
Q7) 125 : 20 :: 300 : x ____________________
Q8) x : 0.7 :: 21.21 : 3 ____________________
Q9) 14 : x :: 28 : 7 ____________________
Q10) 2/3 : x :: 8/9 : 12 ____________________
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Chapter 6: Metric and Household Measurements
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Sample Questions
Q1) 90 kg = ____________________ lb
Q2) 2.5 L = ____________________ mL
Q3) 1 g = ___________ mcg
Q4) 76 mg = ____________________ mcg
Q5)
Q6)
Q11) 1 mg = _________ mcg
Q12) 17.4 kg = ____________________ g
Q13) 445 mg = _____________________ g
Q14) 1 mg = _________ g
Q17) 12.6 cm = _____________________ mm
Q18) 1.42 mg = ____________________ mcg
Q19) 150,525 mcg = ____________________ g
Q20) 18 mg = ________ mcg
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11
Chapter 7: Calculations Used in Patient Assessments
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Sample Questions
Q1) 12.6 cm = _____________________ in
Q2) 4200 g = ______ kg
Q3) 1 mg = _________ mcg
Q4) 445 mg = _____________________ g
Q5) 3 oz = _____ mL
Q6) 102.5° F = ____________________° C
Q7) 17.4 kg = ____________________ g
Q8) 3/4 cup = ____________________ fl oz
Q9) 97.8° F = ____________________° C
Q10) 2.5 L = ____________________ mL
Q11) Calculate the output.
A patient consumes 2 oz of an ice pop and 30 mL of ice chips during the shift. Intravenous fluids infused at 125 mL/h during the shift. The Foley catheter was emptied of 800 mL at 6 PM. A drain was emptied of 80 mL at 6 PM. Calculate the output for the 6 AM to 6 PM shift.
Q12) 90 kg = ____________________ lb
Q13) 76 mg = ____________________ mcg Page 12
Q14) 150,525 mcg = ____________________ g
Q15) 1 cup = ________ oz
Q16) 1 g = ___________ mcg
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Chapter 11: Oral Dosages
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Sample Questions
Q1) The patient has methylphenidate 15 mg oral twice a day at 0800 and 1300 ordered for a decreased level of consciousness. The medication is supplied as methylphenidate 5 mg per tablet. How many tablets of methylphenidate would the patient receive with each dose? _________
Q2) The physician orders diltiazem 60 mg oral three times a day for a patient with supraventricular tachycardia. Diltiazem is available in 30-mg tablets. How many tablets would the nurse administer with each dose? ___________
Q3) The physician has ordered torsemide 40 mg oral every morning for a patient with heart failure. The medication is supplied as torsemide 20 mg per tablet. How many tablets of torsemide would the patient receive with each dose? _________
Q4) The physician orders magnesium oxide 400 mg oral three times a day for a patient with hypomagnesemia. Magnesium oxide is available in 200-mg tablets. How many tablets would the nurse administer with each dose? ___________
Q5) The physician orders Lanoxin elixir 80 mcg po daily for a patient with congestive heart failure. Available: 50 mcg/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
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Chapter 12: Parenteral Dosages
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Sample Questions
Q1) A patient has labetalol 10 mg IV every 2 hours prn for systolic blood pressure more than 180 mm Hg. The medication is available in 5 mg per 1-mL vials. How many milliliters would the nurse administer with each dose? __________
Q2) A patient with nausea and vomiting has prochlorperazine 10 mg IV every 6 hours prn. The medication is supplied in 5 mg per 1-mL vials. How many milliliters would the nurse administer with each dose? __________
Q3) Narcan 0.8 mg IV every 30 minutes is ordered for a patient with a respiratory rate less than 8 breaths/min. The medication is available in 0.4 mg per 1-mL vials. How many milliliters would the nurse administer with each dose?
Q4) Apresoline 10 mg IV every 4 hours is ordered for a patient with hypertension. The medication is available in a 5-mg/2-mL concentration. How many milliliters of Apresoline would the nurse administer with each dose? _____
Q5) Zofran 8 mg IV every 6 hours as needed for nausea is ordered. The medication is available in a 2-mg/mL concentration. How many milliliters would the nurse administer with each dose? ________
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Chapter 13: Dosages Measured in Units
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Sample Questions
Q1) The physician orders heparin 5000 units subcutaneous every 12 hours for a patient with a deep vein thrombosis. The heparin is available in 20,000 units per 1-mL concentration. How many milliliters would the nurse administer with each dose?
Q2) Heparin 10,000 units subcutaneous every 12 hours is ordered for a patient after a stent placement. The heparin is available in 20,000 units per 1-mL concentration. How many milliliters would the nurse administer with each dose? __________
Q3) A patient has orders for Fragmin 2500 international units twice a day for deep vein thrombosis prevention. The Fragmin is available in 5000 international units per 0.4 milliliter vials. How many milliliters would the nurse administer with each dose?
Q4) A patient has orders for Fragmin 10,000 international units twice a day for deep vein thrombosis prevention. The Fragmin is available in 5000 international units per 0.4 milliliter vials. How many milliliters would the nurse administer with each dose?
Q5) The physician orders heparin 5500 units subcutaneous for deep vein thrombosis prevention. The medication is supplied in 10,000 units/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer? ____________________
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Chapter 14: Reconstitution of Medications
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Sample Questions
Q1) The physician orders Ancef 500 mg IV for a urinary tract infection. After reconstitution, the medication is available as 330 mg/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
Q2) The physician orders Keflex 250 mg po for strep throat. After reconstitution, the medication is available as 125 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
Q3) The physician orders Pfizerpen 750,000 units IV for an upper respiratory infection. After reconstitution, the medication is available as 500,000 units/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
Q4) The physician orders penicillin G 500,000 units IM for infection. After reconstitution, the medication is available as 1,000,000/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
Q5) The physician orders Lorabid 350 mg po for pneumonia. After reconstitution, the medication is available as 200 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
Q6) The physician orders penicillin G 350,000 units IM for an infection. After reconstitution, the medication is available as 200,000 units/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
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Chapter 15: Intravenous Flow Rates
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Sample Questions
Q1) The physician gives orders to infuse 1000 mL 0.9% NS at 200 mL/h for dehydration. Tubing drop factor is 10 gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute.
Q2) The patient has Levaquin 500 mg ordered once daily. The Levaquin is available in 100 mL of NS and should infuse over 60 minutes. Using an IV pump, how many milliliters per hour should the Levaquin be infused? ___________
Q3) Tygacil 50 mg IV once a day is ordered for a patient. The Tygacil is dissolved in 50 mL of NS and should infuse over 30 minutes. Using tubing with a drop factor of 20 gtt/mL, how many drops per minute should the Tygacil be infused? ___________
Q4) Lactated Ringer's solution 10,000 mL is to be infused in a burn patient over 8 hours. How many milliliters per hour should the IV fluids be infused? ___________
Q5) The physician orders a continuous IV morphine drip to infuse at 6 mg/h. The medication is supplied in 50 mg/50 mL. Calculate the flow rate in milliliters per hour.
Q6) The physician orders a continuous IV morphine drip to infuse at 5 mg/h. The medication is supplied in 100 mg/100 mL. Calculate the flow rate in milliliters per hour.
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Page 18
Chapter 16: Intravenous Flow Rates for Dosages Measured
in Units
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Sample Questions
Q1) Calculate the milliliters per hour of heparin required for the continuous infusion.
Order: Begin a heparin drip per the facility's protocol. The patient's weight is 76 kg.
Heparin Protocol
Bolus: Heparin 70 units/kg
Infusion: Heparin 17 units/kg/h using a concentration of heparin 25,000 units in 250 mL of NS (100 units/mL)
Q2) Calculate the milliliters per hour of heparin required for the continuous infusion.
Order: Begin a heparin drip per the facility's protocol. The patient's weight is 84 kg.
Heparin Protocol
Bolus: Heparin 70 units/kg
Infusion: Heparin 17 units/kg/h using a concentration of heparin 25,000 units in 250 mL of NS (100 units/mL)
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Chapter 17: Critical Care Intravenous Flow Rates
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Sample Questions
Q1) Round your answer to the nearest whole number. The physician orders a nitroglycerin IV drip to infuse at 8 mcg/min for chest pain. The medication is supplied in 25 mg/250 mL of D<sub>5</sub>W. Calculate the flow rate in milliliters per hour. ____________________
Q2) Round your answer to the nearest tenth. Nesiritide is infusing at 18 mL/h for a patient with congestive heart failure. The nesiritide bag has a 1.5 mg/250 mL concentration. How many micrograms per kilogram per minute is the nesiritide infusing for a 70-kg patient? _______________
Q3) The physician orders Nipride IV drip at 3 mcg/kg/min for elevated blood pressure. The patient weighs 165 lb. The medication is supplied in 50 mg/250 mL of D<sub>5</sub>W. Calculate the flow rate in milliliters per hour.
Q4) Round your answer to the nearest tenth.
A patient with heart failure has nitroglycerin infusing at 5 mL/h. The nitroglycerin concentration is 100 mg/500 mL of D<sub>5</sub>W. At what rate, in micrograms per minute, is the nitroglycerin infusing? ____________________
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Chapter 18: Pediatric Dosages
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Sample Questions
Q1) The physician orders vancomycin 400 mg oral every 6 hours for a child weighing 90 lb. The vancomycin is available in a 250 mg/5 mL concentration. The recommended dose is 40 mg/kg/24 h divided in four divided doses.
a. What is the child's weight in kilograms? _____________
b. How many milligrams per kilogram per 24 hours is the patient receiving?
c. Is the order safe? ___________________
d. If yes, how many milliliters are needed for each dose? ______________
Q2) The recommended dosage of morphine IV for a child is 0.6 mg/kg/h. The child weighs 99 lb. The medication is supplied in 30 mg/30 mL.
a. What is the child's weight in kilograms? _____________
b. Calculate the dose for this child. ____________________
c. Calculate the rate in milliliters per hour for this IV. ____________________
Q3) The recommended safe dose of rifampin for a child is 5 mg/kg/dose. The child's weight is 11 lb. The medication is supplied in 10 mg/mL.
a. What is the child's weight in kilograms? _____________
b. Calculate the safe dose for this child. ____________________
c. How many milliliters will be administered for each dose? ____________________
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Chapter 19: Obstetric Dosages
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Sample Questions
Q1) Round the answer to the nearest whole number.
A physician writes orders to induce labor with a Pitocin drip, beginning with 1 milliunit per minute. Pitocin 30 units is diluted in 500 mL of lactated Ringer's solution. The Pitocin should be infused for how many milliliters per hour? ____________
Q2) Round the answer to the nearest whole number.
A physician writes orders for 1 g/h of magnesium sulfate for a patient in labor. The medication comes premixed with 10 g magnesium sulfate in 200 mL of lactated Ringer's solution. The IV pump should be programmed for how many milliliters per hour?
Q3) Round the answer to the nearest whole number.
A physician orders an increase in a magnesium sulfate drip to 2 g/h for a patient in labor. The medication has a concentration of 10 g magnesium sulfate in 200 mL of lactated Ringer's solution. The IV pump should be programmed for how many milliliters per hour? ___________
Q4) Round the answer to the nearest tenth.
With your initial rounding, you find a Pitocin drip at 10 mL/h. With a Pitocin concentration of 50 units per 500 mL of lactated Ringer's solution, how many milliunits per minute of Pitocin is the patient receiving? _________
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