DOSAGE CALCULATIONS HESI EXAM
REVIEW 2026 DETAILED QUESTIONS AND
SOLVED SOLUTIONS
◉A client with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is receiving an
infusion of 5 % dextrose in water with amikacin (Amikin) 0.572
grams/100 ml every 12 hours. The nurse prepares the dose of
amikacin using a vial labeled, 250 mg/ml. How many ml should the
nurse add to the infusion? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.). Answer: 2.3
First convert gram to milligram: 1 gm = 1000mg .572 gram x 1000 =
572 mg. Next use the formula D/H x Q: 572/250 x 1 = 2.288
(rounded to) 2.3 ml.
◉A client with pericardial effusion has phrenic nerve compression
resulting in recurrent hiccups. The healthcare provider prescribes
metoclopramide (Reglan) liquid 10 mg PO q 6 hours. Reglan is
available as 5 mg/5 ml. A measuring device marked in teaspoons is
being used. How many teaspoons should the nurse administer?.
Answer: 2
,First, using the formula, Desired dose/dose on Hand x Quantity of
volume on hand (D/H x Q), 10 mg / 5 mg x 5ml = 10 ml. Next using
the known conversion of 5 ml = 1 tsp: 5 ml : 1 tsp :: 10 ml : X :
1 / X 5X = 10 X = 2
◉A client is receiving alprazolam (Xanax) 0.75 mg PO BID for
anxiety. Alprazolam is available in 0.5 mg scored tablets. How many
tablets should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.).
Answer: 1.5
Using the conversion of 1 gram = 1000 mg: 0.1 gram = 100 mg 100
mg = 1 capsule
◉A client with multiple sclerosis is prescribed Dantrolene
(Dantrium) 0.1 grams PO BID for spasticity. Dantrolene is available
in 100 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse
administer? (Enter numeric value only.). Answer: 1
Using the conversion of 1 gram = 1000 mg: 0.1 gram = 100 mg 100
mg = 1 capsule
◉A client has a prescription for inamrinone (Inocor) 0.75 mg/kg IV
bolus to be delivered over 3 minutes. The client weighs 80 kg.
Inamrinone is available for injection 100 mg/20 ml. How many ml of
inamrinone should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.
If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.). Answer: 12
,First calculate the mg/kg dosage needed: 0.75 mg x 80 kg = 60 mg
needed. Then calculate Desired / Have x ml 60 mg / 100 mg x 20 ml
= 12 ml.
◉A client who had mitral valve replacement surgery receives a
prescription for dextrose 5% in water with 0.5 grams of dobutamine
in 250 ml for IV infusion at a rate of 5 mcg/kg/minute. The client
weighs 75 kg. The nurse should program the infusion pump to
deliver how many ml/hr? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.). Answer: 11.3
First calculate the number of mcg/kg/minute: 5 x 75 = 375
mcg/minute. Calculate the number of mcg/hour: 375 x 60 minutes =
22,500 mcg/hour. Next calculate the number of ml/hour needed to
administer 22,500 mcg/hour: 500,000 mcg : 250 ml :: 22,500 mcg/
X ml 500,000X = 5,625,000 X = 11.25 (rounded to 11.3 ml/hour).
◉A healthcare provider prescribes a continuous infusion of 0.9%
sodium chloride with pancuronium (Pavulon) 25 mg/250 ml at a
rate of 0.1 mg/kg/hr for a client with coronary artery bypass
grafting. The client weighs 78 kg. The nurse should program the
infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value
only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.. Answer: 78
, First calculate the number of mg the client will receive in 1 hour: 0.1
mg x 78 kg = 7.8 mg/hour. Next calculate the number of ml
containing 7.8 mg of medication: 25 mg : 250 ml :: 7.8 mg : X 25 mg/
7.8 mg :: 250 ml/X 25X = 1950 X = 78 ml/hour.
◉A client scheduled for surgery is to receive an IV infusion of 0.9%
sodium chloride with prochlorperazine edisylate (Compazine) 10
mg/50 ml over 30 minutes. The nurse should program the infusion
pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only.).
Answer: 100
Calculate: 50 ml : 30 minutes :: X ml : 60 minutes 50/X :: 30/60 3000
= 15X X = 100 ml
◉The healthcare provider prescribes an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium
chloride with 40 mEq KCl/500 ml to infuse over 3 hours for a client
with hypokalemia. The nurse should program the infusion pump to
deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding
is required, round to the nearest whole number.). Answer: 167
To determine ml/hour: 500 ml : 3 hours :: as X ml : 1 hour 500/X ::
3/1 500 = 3X X = 166.66 (rounds to)= 167 ml/hour.
◉The healthcare provider prescribes a continuous infusion of 5%
dextrose in 0.45% sodium chloride at 85 ml/hour. The IV
administration set delivers 10 gtt/ml. The nurse should regulate the
REVIEW 2026 DETAILED QUESTIONS AND
SOLVED SOLUTIONS
◉A client with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is receiving an
infusion of 5 % dextrose in water with amikacin (Amikin) 0.572
grams/100 ml every 12 hours. The nurse prepares the dose of
amikacin using a vial labeled, 250 mg/ml. How many ml should the
nurse add to the infusion? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.). Answer: 2.3
First convert gram to milligram: 1 gm = 1000mg .572 gram x 1000 =
572 mg. Next use the formula D/H x Q: 572/250 x 1 = 2.288
(rounded to) 2.3 ml.
◉A client with pericardial effusion has phrenic nerve compression
resulting in recurrent hiccups. The healthcare provider prescribes
metoclopramide (Reglan) liquid 10 mg PO q 6 hours. Reglan is
available as 5 mg/5 ml. A measuring device marked in teaspoons is
being used. How many teaspoons should the nurse administer?.
Answer: 2
,First, using the formula, Desired dose/dose on Hand x Quantity of
volume on hand (D/H x Q), 10 mg / 5 mg x 5ml = 10 ml. Next using
the known conversion of 5 ml = 1 tsp: 5 ml : 1 tsp :: 10 ml : X :
1 / X 5X = 10 X = 2
◉A client is receiving alprazolam (Xanax) 0.75 mg PO BID for
anxiety. Alprazolam is available in 0.5 mg scored tablets. How many
tablets should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.).
Answer: 1.5
Using the conversion of 1 gram = 1000 mg: 0.1 gram = 100 mg 100
mg = 1 capsule
◉A client with multiple sclerosis is prescribed Dantrolene
(Dantrium) 0.1 grams PO BID for spasticity. Dantrolene is available
in 100 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse
administer? (Enter numeric value only.). Answer: 1
Using the conversion of 1 gram = 1000 mg: 0.1 gram = 100 mg 100
mg = 1 capsule
◉A client has a prescription for inamrinone (Inocor) 0.75 mg/kg IV
bolus to be delivered over 3 minutes. The client weighs 80 kg.
Inamrinone is available for injection 100 mg/20 ml. How many ml of
inamrinone should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.
If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.). Answer: 12
,First calculate the mg/kg dosage needed: 0.75 mg x 80 kg = 60 mg
needed. Then calculate Desired / Have x ml 60 mg / 100 mg x 20 ml
= 12 ml.
◉A client who had mitral valve replacement surgery receives a
prescription for dextrose 5% in water with 0.5 grams of dobutamine
in 250 ml for IV infusion at a rate of 5 mcg/kg/minute. The client
weighs 75 kg. The nurse should program the infusion pump to
deliver how many ml/hr? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.). Answer: 11.3
First calculate the number of mcg/kg/minute: 5 x 75 = 375
mcg/minute. Calculate the number of mcg/hour: 375 x 60 minutes =
22,500 mcg/hour. Next calculate the number of ml/hour needed to
administer 22,500 mcg/hour: 500,000 mcg : 250 ml :: 22,500 mcg/
X ml 500,000X = 5,625,000 X = 11.25 (rounded to 11.3 ml/hour).
◉A healthcare provider prescribes a continuous infusion of 0.9%
sodium chloride with pancuronium (Pavulon) 25 mg/250 ml at a
rate of 0.1 mg/kg/hr for a client with coronary artery bypass
grafting. The client weighs 78 kg. The nurse should program the
infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value
only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.. Answer: 78
, First calculate the number of mg the client will receive in 1 hour: 0.1
mg x 78 kg = 7.8 mg/hour. Next calculate the number of ml
containing 7.8 mg of medication: 25 mg : 250 ml :: 7.8 mg : X 25 mg/
7.8 mg :: 250 ml/X 25X = 1950 X = 78 ml/hour.
◉A client scheduled for surgery is to receive an IV infusion of 0.9%
sodium chloride with prochlorperazine edisylate (Compazine) 10
mg/50 ml over 30 minutes. The nurse should program the infusion
pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only.).
Answer: 100
Calculate: 50 ml : 30 minutes :: X ml : 60 minutes 50/X :: 30/60 3000
= 15X X = 100 ml
◉The healthcare provider prescribes an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium
chloride with 40 mEq KCl/500 ml to infuse over 3 hours for a client
with hypokalemia. The nurse should program the infusion pump to
deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding
is required, round to the nearest whole number.). Answer: 167
To determine ml/hour: 500 ml : 3 hours :: as X ml : 1 hour 500/X ::
3/1 500 = 3X X = 166.66 (rounds to)= 167 ml/hour.
◉The healthcare provider prescribes a continuous infusion of 5%
dextrose in 0.45% sodium chloride at 85 ml/hour. The IV
administration set delivers 10 gtt/ml. The nurse should regulate the
