Comprehensive Guide to Drug
Dosage Calculations for Nursing |
Latest Updated 2026
1. What does '100mg/kg/day in divided doses' mean? - ANSWER It means to
give 100mg for every kg the patient weighs each day, divided into multiple
doses.
2. What is the first step to take when calculating a dose from a medication vial
labeled 100mg/5mL for 10mL? - ANSWER Determine the total mg in
10mL using the concentration.
3. What is the concentration of a medication if the vial states to reconstitute
with 50mL for a concentration of 0.5mg/mL? - ANSWER 0.5mg/mL.
4. How do you calculate the amount to administer if the order is for 1,000 mcg
IV and the concentration is 0.5mg/mL? - ANSWER Convert mcg to mg
(1,000 mcg = 1 mg) and use the concentration to find the volume to
administer.
5. What does 'q4h' indicate for medication administration? - ANSWER 'q4h'
means to administer the medication every 4 hours.
,6. What is the significance of the phrase 'keep it together until you simplify' in
dosage calculations? - ANSWER It emphasizes maintaining the integrity of
units and values until the final calculation.
7. What is the method for rounding 3.452 to the nearest hundredth? -
ANSWER 3.452 rounds to 3.45.
8. What is the total amount of medication for a patient weighing 63kg
prescribed 10mg/kg? - ANSWER 630mg.
9. What does 'tid' mean in medication orders? - ANSWER 'tid' means to give
the medication three times a day.
10.What should you do if a medication order is unclear? - ANSWER Seek
clarification before administering the medication.
11.What is the safe dosage range of Acyclovir for a child weighing 11.2 kg? -
ANSWER 25-50 mg/kg/day
12.How do you calculate the lowest dose of Acyclovir for a child weighing 11.2
kg? - ANSWER 25 mg/kg x 11.2 kg = 280 mg/day
13.How do you calculate the highest dose of Acyclovir for a child weighing
11.2 kg? - ANSWER 50 mg/kg x 11.2 kg = 560 mg/day
14.What is the formula to calculate IV flow rate? - ANSWER Volume = Rate x
Time
,15.What is the concentration of a solution if 500 mg is in 250 mL? - ANSWER
2 mg/mL (500 mg ÷ 250 mL)
16.How do you calculate the rate for an IV pump? - ANSWER Volume of fluid
ordered divided by time of infusion in hours.
17.What is the IV drip rate formula? - ANSWER Volume x Drop factor = Rate
/ Time
18.What is the drip rate if giving 200 mL/hr with a 15 gtt/mL set? - ANSWER
50 gtts/min (200 mL x 15 gtt/mL ÷ 60 min)
19.How do you convert minutes to hours for IV calculations? - ANSWER
Divide the number of minutes by 60.
20.What is the dilution principle for medications? - ANSWER Adding more
liquid dilutes the solution without changing the drug amount.
21.What is the correct way to write a decimal dosage? - ANSWER Always
include a leading zero, e.g., 0.7 mL.
22.What should you do before rounding dosage numbers? - ANSWER Do not
round until the end of the problem.
23.What is the risk of diluting medication into a saline flush? - ANSWER It
increases the risk of infection and liability.
24.What is the correct way to express half-strength medication? - ANSWER
Double the liquid volume while keeping the drug amount the same.
, 25.What is the conversion for 1/3 hour in minutes? - ANSWER 20 minutes.
26.How do you find the number of drops per minute for an IV? - ANSWER
Calculate the volume in mL and divide by time in minutes, then multiply by
drop factor.
27.What is the importance of knowing the concentration of IV medications? -
ANSWER It ensures safe and accurate dosing.
28.What should you do if units do not match in a dosage problem? - ANSWER
Convert to the units you are working with.
29.What is the maximum number of questions on Dosage Quiz 3? - ANSWER
32 questions.
30.What is the total point value for Dosage Quiz 3? - ANSWER 16 points.
31.What should you do if you miss more than 1 or 2 questions on a practice
test? - ANSWER Get help before your quiz.
32.What is the significance of IV calculations in medication administration? -
ANSWER They ensure accurate delivery of medications and patient safety.
33.What is the formula to calculate the rate of speed for an IV pump? -
ANSWER It is analogous to calculating miles per hour, expressed in mL
per hour.
Dosage Calculations for Nursing |
Latest Updated 2026
1. What does '100mg/kg/day in divided doses' mean? - ANSWER It means to
give 100mg for every kg the patient weighs each day, divided into multiple
doses.
2. What is the first step to take when calculating a dose from a medication vial
labeled 100mg/5mL for 10mL? - ANSWER Determine the total mg in
10mL using the concentration.
3. What is the concentration of a medication if the vial states to reconstitute
with 50mL for a concentration of 0.5mg/mL? - ANSWER 0.5mg/mL.
4. How do you calculate the amount to administer if the order is for 1,000 mcg
IV and the concentration is 0.5mg/mL? - ANSWER Convert mcg to mg
(1,000 mcg = 1 mg) and use the concentration to find the volume to
administer.
5. What does 'q4h' indicate for medication administration? - ANSWER 'q4h'
means to administer the medication every 4 hours.
,6. What is the significance of the phrase 'keep it together until you simplify' in
dosage calculations? - ANSWER It emphasizes maintaining the integrity of
units and values until the final calculation.
7. What is the method for rounding 3.452 to the nearest hundredth? -
ANSWER 3.452 rounds to 3.45.
8. What is the total amount of medication for a patient weighing 63kg
prescribed 10mg/kg? - ANSWER 630mg.
9. What does 'tid' mean in medication orders? - ANSWER 'tid' means to give
the medication three times a day.
10.What should you do if a medication order is unclear? - ANSWER Seek
clarification before administering the medication.
11.What is the safe dosage range of Acyclovir for a child weighing 11.2 kg? -
ANSWER 25-50 mg/kg/day
12.How do you calculate the lowest dose of Acyclovir for a child weighing 11.2
kg? - ANSWER 25 mg/kg x 11.2 kg = 280 mg/day
13.How do you calculate the highest dose of Acyclovir for a child weighing
11.2 kg? - ANSWER 50 mg/kg x 11.2 kg = 560 mg/day
14.What is the formula to calculate IV flow rate? - ANSWER Volume = Rate x
Time
,15.What is the concentration of a solution if 500 mg is in 250 mL? - ANSWER
2 mg/mL (500 mg ÷ 250 mL)
16.How do you calculate the rate for an IV pump? - ANSWER Volume of fluid
ordered divided by time of infusion in hours.
17.What is the IV drip rate formula? - ANSWER Volume x Drop factor = Rate
/ Time
18.What is the drip rate if giving 200 mL/hr with a 15 gtt/mL set? - ANSWER
50 gtts/min (200 mL x 15 gtt/mL ÷ 60 min)
19.How do you convert minutes to hours for IV calculations? - ANSWER
Divide the number of minutes by 60.
20.What is the dilution principle for medications? - ANSWER Adding more
liquid dilutes the solution without changing the drug amount.
21.What is the correct way to write a decimal dosage? - ANSWER Always
include a leading zero, e.g., 0.7 mL.
22.What should you do before rounding dosage numbers? - ANSWER Do not
round until the end of the problem.
23.What is the risk of diluting medication into a saline flush? - ANSWER It
increases the risk of infection and liability.
24.What is the correct way to express half-strength medication? - ANSWER
Double the liquid volume while keeping the drug amount the same.
, 25.What is the conversion for 1/3 hour in minutes? - ANSWER 20 minutes.
26.How do you find the number of drops per minute for an IV? - ANSWER
Calculate the volume in mL and divide by time in minutes, then multiply by
drop factor.
27.What is the importance of knowing the concentration of IV medications? -
ANSWER It ensures safe and accurate dosing.
28.What should you do if units do not match in a dosage problem? - ANSWER
Convert to the units you are working with.
29.What is the maximum number of questions on Dosage Quiz 3? - ANSWER
32 questions.
30.What is the total point value for Dosage Quiz 3? - ANSWER 16 points.
31.What should you do if you miss more than 1 or 2 questions on a practice
test? - ANSWER Get help before your quiz.
32.What is the significance of IV calculations in medication administration? -
ANSWER They ensure accurate delivery of medications and patient safety.
33.What is the formula to calculate the rate of speed for an IV pump? -
ANSWER It is analogous to calculating miles per hour, expressed in mL
per hour.
