| Nursing Test Bank | Dosage
Calculation Nursing MCQs
A nurse is preparing to administer codeine 20 mg PO every 6 hr PRN pain. Available is codeine oral
solution 10 mg/ 5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?
(Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) -
CORRECT ANSWERCORRECT ANSWER: 10 mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 20 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 10 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 5 mL
Step 6: Set up an equation and solve for X.
Have/Quantity = Desired/X
10 mg/ 5 mL = 20 mg/ X mL
X mL = 10 mL
Step 7: Round if necessary.
Step 8: Determine whether the amount to administer makes sense. If there are 10 mg/5 mL and the
prescription reads 20 mg, it makes sense to administer 10 mL. The nurse should administer codeine oral
solution 10 mL PO every 6 hr PRN pain.
A nurse is preparing to administer eszopiclone 2,000 mcg PO to a client. How many mg should the nurse
administer?
,(Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) -
CORRECT ANSWERCORRECT ANSWER: 2 mg
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mg
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 2,000 mcg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 1 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? Yes (mcg does not equal mg)
1,000 mcg/1 mg = 2,000 mcg/X mg
X mg = 2 mg
Step 5: Round if necessary.
Step 6: Determine whether the amount to administer makes sense. If the prescription reads 2,000 mcg
and 1,000 mcg equals 1 mg, it makes sense to administer 2 mg. The nurse should administer eszopiclone
2 mg PO.
A nurse is preparing to administer tobramycin 4 mg/kg/day IM divided in three equal doses to a patient
who weighs 60 kg. Available is tobramycin 40 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per
dose?
(Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) -
CORRECT ANSWERCORRECT ANSWER: 2 mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mg
Step 2: Set up an equation and solve for X.
X = Dose per kg × Client's weight in kg
X mg = 4 mg/kg × 60 kg
X mg = 240 mg
The dose is divided into three equal doses; therefore, divide X by 3.
240 mg = 80 mg3
,Step 3: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 4: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 80 mg
Step 5: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 40 mg
Step 6: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 7: What is the quantity of the dose available? 1 mL
Step 8: Set up an equation and solve for X.
Have/Quantity = Desired/X
40 mg/1 mL = 80 mg/X mL
X mL = 2 mL
Step 9: Round if necessary.
Step 10: Determine whether the amount to administer makes sense. If there are 40 mg/mL and the
prescription reads 4 mg/kg/day divided in three equal doses, it makes sense to administer 2 mL. The
nurse should administer tobramycin 2 mL IM per dose.
A nurse is preparing to administer meperidine 75 mg IM stat. Available is meperidine injection 100
mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
(Round CORRECT ANSWER to nearest hundredth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing
zero.) - CORRECT ANSWERCORRECT ANSWER: 0.75 mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 75 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 100 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 1 mL
Step 6: Set up an equation and solve for X.
Have/Quantity = Desired/X
100 mg / 1mL =75 mg/ X mL
X mL = 0.75 mL
, Step 7: Round if necessary.
Step 8: Determine whether the amount to administer makes sense. If there are 100 mg/mL and the
prescription reads 75 mg, it makes sense to administer 0.75 mL. The nurse should administer
meperidine 0.75 mL IM.
A nurse is preparing to administer famotidine 40 mg PO at bedtime. Available is famotidine 20
mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
(Round CORRECT ANSWER to nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing
zero.) - CORRECT ANSWERCORRECT ANSWER: 2 tablets
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? tablet(s)
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 40 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 20 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 1 tablet
Step 6: Set up an equation and solve for X.
Have/Quantity = Desired/X
20 mg/ 1 tablet = 40 mg/X tablet(s)
X tablet(s) = 2 tablets
Step 7: Round if necessary.
Step 8: Determine whether the amount to administer makes sense. If there are 20 mg/tablet and the
prescription reads 40 mg, it makes sense to administer 2 tablets. The nurse should administer
famotidine 2 tablets PO at bedtime.
A nurse is preparing to administer morphine 4 mg IM. Available is morphine injection 10 mg/mL. How
many mL should the nurse administer per dose?
(Round CORRECT ANSWER to nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) -
CORRECT ANSWERCORRECT ANSWER: 0.4 mL