BSN215 Exam 1 Actual Exam Style V3 |
BSN 215 HESI RN Specialty Dosage
Calculation | Nightingale
1. A physician orders 500 mg of Cephalexin oral suspension. The bottle is labeled 250 mg per
5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 10 mL
B. 5 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Answer: A
Rationale: First, identify the ordered dose which is 500 mg and the concentration available
which is 250 mg per 5 mL. Divide the desired dose of 500 mg by the dose on hand of 250
mg to get a factor of 2. Multiply this factor by the volume of 5 mL to arrive at the final dose
of 10 mL.
2. The nurse needs to convert a patient’s weight of 176 lbs into kilograms for a weight-based
medication calculation. What is the weight in kg?
A. 76 kg
B. 88 kg
C. 80 kg
,D. 90 kg
Answer: C
Rationale: To convert pounds to kilograms, the nurse must divide the weight in pounds by
the conversion factor of 2.2. Dividing 176 by 2.2 results in exactly 80 kg. Accurate weight
conversion is essential for determining safe medication dosages in the clinical setting.
3. An IV of 1,000 mL 0.9% Normal Saline is ordered to infuse over 8 hours. At what rate in
mL/hr should the nurse set the IV pump?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 80 mL/hr
Answer: B
Rationale: The total volume to be infused is 1,000 mL over a period of 8 hours. To find the
hourly rate, divide the total volume by the total number of hours. The result of 1,000
divided by 8 is 125 mL/hr, which is the standard pump setting.
4. A medication order is for Digoxin 0.125 mg IV push. The vial contains 0.25 mg/mL. How
many mL will the nurse draw up?
A. 0.25 mL
B. 1 mL
, C. 0.5 mL
D. 2 mL
Answer: C
Rationale: The desired dose is 0.125 mg and the concentration available is 0.25 mg per mL.
Using the formula (Desired/Have) x Volume, divide 0.125 by 0.25 to get 0.5. Multiplying 0.5
by 1 mL confirms the total volume to be administered is 0.5 mL.
5. The healthcare provider orders 1 gram of Cefazolin in 100 mL of D5W to be infused over 30
minutes. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in gtt/min?
A. 30 gtt/min
B. 60 gtt/min
C. 50 gtt/min
D. 45 gtt/min
Answer: C
Rationale: To calculate drops per minute, multiply the total volume of 100 mL by the drop
factor of 15 to get 1,500 total drops. Divide the total drops by the infusion time of 30
minutes to find the rate. The final calculation of 1,500 divided by 30 equals 50 gtt/min.
6. A patient is prescribed 2,000 units of Heparin per hour. The IV bag contains 25,000 units of
Heparin in 500 mL of 0.9% Normal Saline. At what rate in mL/hr should the pump be set?
A. 25 mL/hr
BSN 215 HESI RN Specialty Dosage
Calculation | Nightingale
1. A physician orders 500 mg of Cephalexin oral suspension. The bottle is labeled 250 mg per
5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 10 mL
B. 5 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Answer: A
Rationale: First, identify the ordered dose which is 500 mg and the concentration available
which is 250 mg per 5 mL. Divide the desired dose of 500 mg by the dose on hand of 250
mg to get a factor of 2. Multiply this factor by the volume of 5 mL to arrive at the final dose
of 10 mL.
2. The nurse needs to convert a patient’s weight of 176 lbs into kilograms for a weight-based
medication calculation. What is the weight in kg?
A. 76 kg
B. 88 kg
C. 80 kg
,D. 90 kg
Answer: C
Rationale: To convert pounds to kilograms, the nurse must divide the weight in pounds by
the conversion factor of 2.2. Dividing 176 by 2.2 results in exactly 80 kg. Accurate weight
conversion is essential for determining safe medication dosages in the clinical setting.
3. An IV of 1,000 mL 0.9% Normal Saline is ordered to infuse over 8 hours. At what rate in
mL/hr should the nurse set the IV pump?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 80 mL/hr
Answer: B
Rationale: The total volume to be infused is 1,000 mL over a period of 8 hours. To find the
hourly rate, divide the total volume by the total number of hours. The result of 1,000
divided by 8 is 125 mL/hr, which is the standard pump setting.
4. A medication order is for Digoxin 0.125 mg IV push. The vial contains 0.25 mg/mL. How
many mL will the nurse draw up?
A. 0.25 mL
B. 1 mL
, C. 0.5 mL
D. 2 mL
Answer: C
Rationale: The desired dose is 0.125 mg and the concentration available is 0.25 mg per mL.
Using the formula (Desired/Have) x Volume, divide 0.125 by 0.25 to get 0.5. Multiplying 0.5
by 1 mL confirms the total volume to be administered is 0.5 mL.
5. The healthcare provider orders 1 gram of Cefazolin in 100 mL of D5W to be infused over 30
minutes. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in gtt/min?
A. 30 gtt/min
B. 60 gtt/min
C. 50 gtt/min
D. 45 gtt/min
Answer: C
Rationale: To calculate drops per minute, multiply the total volume of 100 mL by the drop
factor of 15 to get 1,500 total drops. Divide the total drops by the infusion time of 30
minutes to find the rate. The final calculation of 1,500 divided by 30 equals 50 gtt/min.
6. A patient is prescribed 2,000 units of Heparin per hour. The IV bag contains 25,000 units of
Heparin in 500 mL of 0.9% Normal Saline. At what rate in mL/hr should the pump be set?
A. 25 mL/hr
