Dosage Calculation RN Critical Care
Assessment |ATI RN Critical Care Dosage
Calculation Proctored Assessment 3.1
Exam Questions and Correct Answers
2024/2025, Graded A+
1. A nurse is preparing to administer eszopiclone 2,000 mcg PO. How many mg
should the nurse administer? (Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 2 mg
Rationale: 1,000 mcg = 1 mg, so 2,000 mcg = 2 mg.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who weighs 128 lb. What is the patient's weight in
kg? (Round to nearest tenth)
,,answer,,,: 58.2 kg
Rationale: 128 lb ÷ 2.2 = 58.1818 → 58.2 kg.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer prednisone 50 mg PO. Available is
prednisone 20 mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Round
to nearest tenth)
,,answer,,,: 2.5 tablets
Rationale: 50 mg ÷ 20 mg = 2.5 tablets.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide 20 mg IM. Available is 10
mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round to nearest whole
number)
,,,answer,,,: 2 mL
Rationale: 20 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 2 mL.
5. Doctor's order: 0.8 L of normal saline to infuse over 45 minutes. What is the
hourly rate in mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 1,067 mL/hr
Rationale: 0.8 L = 800 mL. (800 mL ÷ 45 min) × 60 min = 1,066.67 → 1,067
mL/hr.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer phenobarbital 6 mg/kg/day PO divided q12h
to a patient weighing 44 lb. Available is 20 mg/5 mL. How many mL per dose?
(Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 15 mL
Rationale: 44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. 6 mg/kg × 20 kg = 120 mg/day. 120 mg ÷ 2 = 60
mg/dose. (60 mg ÷ 20 mg) × 5 mL = 15 mL.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer esmolol 45 mcg/kg/min for a client weighing
59 kg. Available is esmolol 2,500 mg in 250 mL D5W. How many mL/hr? (Round
to nearest tenth)
,,answer,,,: 15.9 mL/hr
Rationale: 45 mcg/kg/min × 59 kg = 2,655 mcg/min = 2.655 mg/min.
Concentration: 2,500 mg ÷ 250 mL = 10 mg/mL. 2.655 mg/min ÷ 10 mg/mL =
0.2655 mL/min × 60 = 15.93 → 15.9 mL/hr.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer nitroglycerin 50 mcg/min IV. Available is 25
mg in 250 mL D5W. How many mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 30 mL/hr
Rationale: 25 mg ÷ 250 mL = 0.1 mg/mL. 50 mcg/min = 0.05 mg/min. 0.05 ÷ 0.1
= 0.5 mL/min × 60 = 30 mL/hr.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer dextrose 5% in water (D5W) 500 mL IV over
45 minutes. How many mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole number)
, ,,answer,,,: 667 mL/hr
Rationale: (500 mL ÷ 45 min) × 60 = 666.67 → 667 mL/hr.
10. A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 18 units/kg/hr for a patient weighing
88 lb. Available is heparin 25,000 units in 500 mL D5W. How many mL/hr?
(Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 14 mL/hr
Rationale: 88 lb ÷ 2.2 = 40 kg. 18 units/kg × 40 kg = 720 units/hr. Concentration:
25,000 units ÷ 500 mL = 50 units/mL. 720 units/hr ÷ 50 units/mL = 14.4 → 14
mL/hr.
11. A nurse is preparing to administer lidocaine 2 mg/min IV. Available is
lidocaine 1 g in 500 mL D5W. How many mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole
number)
,,answer,,,: 60 mL/hr
Rationale: 1 g = 1,000 mg. Concentration: 1,000 mg ÷ 500 mL = 2 mg/mL. 2
mg/min ÷ 2 mg/mL = 1 mL/min × 60 = 60 mL/hr.
12. A nurse is preparing to administer dopamine 5 mcg/kg/min to a patient
weighing 176 lb. Available is dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL D5W. How many
mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 15 mL/hr
Rationale: 176 lb ÷ 2.2 = 80 kg. 5 mcg/kg/min × 80 kg = 400 mcg/min = 0.4
mg/min. Concentration: 400 mg ÷ 250 mL = 1.6 mg/mL. 0.4 mg/min ÷ 1.6 mg/mL
= 0.25 mL/min × 60 = 15 mL/hr.
13. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 0.125 mg PO. Available is digoxin
0.25 mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Round to nearest
tenth)
,,answer,,,: 0.5 tablet
Rationale: 0.125 mg ÷ 0.25 mg = 0.5 tablet.
Assessment |ATI RN Critical Care Dosage
Calculation Proctored Assessment 3.1
Exam Questions and Correct Answers
2024/2025, Graded A+
1. A nurse is preparing to administer eszopiclone 2,000 mcg PO. How many mg
should the nurse administer? (Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 2 mg
Rationale: 1,000 mcg = 1 mg, so 2,000 mcg = 2 mg.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who weighs 128 lb. What is the patient's weight in
kg? (Round to nearest tenth)
,,answer,,,: 58.2 kg
Rationale: 128 lb ÷ 2.2 = 58.1818 → 58.2 kg.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer prednisone 50 mg PO. Available is
prednisone 20 mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Round
to nearest tenth)
,,answer,,,: 2.5 tablets
Rationale: 50 mg ÷ 20 mg = 2.5 tablets.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide 20 mg IM. Available is 10
mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round to nearest whole
number)
,,,answer,,,: 2 mL
Rationale: 20 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 2 mL.
5. Doctor's order: 0.8 L of normal saline to infuse over 45 minutes. What is the
hourly rate in mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 1,067 mL/hr
Rationale: 0.8 L = 800 mL. (800 mL ÷ 45 min) × 60 min = 1,066.67 → 1,067
mL/hr.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer phenobarbital 6 mg/kg/day PO divided q12h
to a patient weighing 44 lb. Available is 20 mg/5 mL. How many mL per dose?
(Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 15 mL
Rationale: 44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. 6 mg/kg × 20 kg = 120 mg/day. 120 mg ÷ 2 = 60
mg/dose. (60 mg ÷ 20 mg) × 5 mL = 15 mL.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer esmolol 45 mcg/kg/min for a client weighing
59 kg. Available is esmolol 2,500 mg in 250 mL D5W. How many mL/hr? (Round
to nearest tenth)
,,answer,,,: 15.9 mL/hr
Rationale: 45 mcg/kg/min × 59 kg = 2,655 mcg/min = 2.655 mg/min.
Concentration: 2,500 mg ÷ 250 mL = 10 mg/mL. 2.655 mg/min ÷ 10 mg/mL =
0.2655 mL/min × 60 = 15.93 → 15.9 mL/hr.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer nitroglycerin 50 mcg/min IV. Available is 25
mg in 250 mL D5W. How many mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 30 mL/hr
Rationale: 25 mg ÷ 250 mL = 0.1 mg/mL. 50 mcg/min = 0.05 mg/min. 0.05 ÷ 0.1
= 0.5 mL/min × 60 = 30 mL/hr.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer dextrose 5% in water (D5W) 500 mL IV over
45 minutes. How many mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole number)
, ,,answer,,,: 667 mL/hr
Rationale: (500 mL ÷ 45 min) × 60 = 666.67 → 667 mL/hr.
10. A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 18 units/kg/hr for a patient weighing
88 lb. Available is heparin 25,000 units in 500 mL D5W. How many mL/hr?
(Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 14 mL/hr
Rationale: 88 lb ÷ 2.2 = 40 kg. 18 units/kg × 40 kg = 720 units/hr. Concentration:
25,000 units ÷ 500 mL = 50 units/mL. 720 units/hr ÷ 50 units/mL = 14.4 → 14
mL/hr.
11. A nurse is preparing to administer lidocaine 2 mg/min IV. Available is
lidocaine 1 g in 500 mL D5W. How many mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole
number)
,,answer,,,: 60 mL/hr
Rationale: 1 g = 1,000 mg. Concentration: 1,000 mg ÷ 500 mL = 2 mg/mL. 2
mg/min ÷ 2 mg/mL = 1 mL/min × 60 = 60 mL/hr.
12. A nurse is preparing to administer dopamine 5 mcg/kg/min to a patient
weighing 176 lb. Available is dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL D5W. How many
mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole number)
,,answer,,,: 15 mL/hr
Rationale: 176 lb ÷ 2.2 = 80 kg. 5 mcg/kg/min × 80 kg = 400 mcg/min = 0.4
mg/min. Concentration: 400 mg ÷ 250 mL = 1.6 mg/mL. 0.4 mg/min ÷ 1.6 mg/mL
= 0.25 mL/min × 60 = 15 mL/hr.
13. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 0.125 mg PO. Available is digoxin
0.25 mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Round to nearest
tenth)
,,answer,,,: 0.5 tablet
Rationale: 0.125 mg ÷ 0.25 mg = 0.5 tablet.
