BSN 215 HESI Dosage Calculation Exam: Multiple-Choice
Questions With Explanations - Nightingale College - 179
Questions and Answers Already Graded A+ Premium Exam
Tested And Verified
Subject Area Nursing - Dosage Calculation and Medication Administration
Description This exam assesses advanced competency in dosage calculation, including
intravenous (IV) infusion rates, safe dose ranges, reconstitution, titration,
weight-based dosing, and critical care calculations. It integrates pharmacology,
pharmacokinetics, and patient safety standards aligned with Nightingale College's
BSN 215 curriculum.
Expected Grade A+
Total Questions 179
Duration 3 hours
Learning Outcomes 1. Accurately calculate IV flow rates, drip rates, and infusion times for various
clinical scenarios.
2. Determine safe dose ranges and verify ordered doses against formulary and
patient parameters.
3. Perform complex multi-step calculations involving weight-based dosing,
reconstitution, and titration.
4. Interpret medication labels and prescription orders to prevent medication errors.
5. Apply dimensional analysis and ratio-proportion methods to solve dosage
problems.
Accreditation This exam meets the rigorous standards of the Nightingale College BSN program
and prepares students for the HESI Dosage Calculation exam, which is required
for graduation and NCLEX-RN eligibility.
Page 1
,1. A patient with acute decompensated heart failure is prescribed a continuous
intravenous infusion of dobutamine at 5 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 70 kg. The
pharmacy supplies dobutamine 500 mg in 250 mL of D5W. Using an infusion pump
that delivers in mL/hr, what rate should the nurse set?
A. 10.5 mL/hr
B. 15.2 mL/hr
C. 21.0 mL/hr
D. 25.0 mL/hr
Answer: A. 10.5 mL/hr
First, calculate the dose per minute: 5 mcg/kg/min × 70 kg = 350 mcg/min. Convert to
mg/min: 350 mcg = 0.35 mg/min. Then mg/hr: 0.35 mg/min × 60 = 21 mg/hr.
Concentration: 500 mg/250 mL = 2 mg/mL. Rate = 21 mg/hr ÷ 2 mg/mL = 10.5 mL/hr.
Option B (15.2) results from incorrectly converting 350 mcg to 0.35 mg but then
dividing by 2.3; Option C (21) is the mg/hr dose, not mL/hr; Option D (25) uses 5
mg/kg/min.
2. A patient requires an IV infusion of 0.45% sodium chloride at 125 mL/hr. The
nurse uses a microdrip set with a drop factor of 60 gtt/mL. What is the correct drip
rate in drops per minute?
A. 125 gtt/min
B. 60 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min
D. 21 gtt/min
Answer: A. 125 gtt/min
Drip rate (gtt/min) = (Volume in mL/hr × Drop factor in gtt/mL) ÷ 60 min/hr. Here,
(125 mL/hr × 60 gtt/mL) ÷ 60 = 125 gtt/min. Option B (60) mistakenly uses the drop
factor as the rate; Option C (31) uses a drop factor of 15; Option D (21) uses 10 gtt/mL.
Page 2
,3. A patient is ordered heparin 18 units/kg/hr. The patient weighs 75 kg. The
pharmacy supplies heparin 25,000 units in 500 mL D5W. What rate in mL/hr should
the nurse program the infusion pump?
A. 27 mL/hr
B. 30 mL/hr
C. 33 mL/hr
D. 36 mL/hr
Answer: A. 27 mL/hr
Dose per hour: 18 units/kg/hr × 75 kg = 1350 units/hr. Concentration: 25,000 units/500
mL = 50 units/mL. Rate = 1350 units/hr ÷ 50 units/mL = 27 mL/hr. Option B (30)
results from 1500 units/hr (20 units/kg/hr); Option C (33) from 1650 units/hr; Option D
(36) from 1800 units/hr.
4. A patient with a severe infection is prescribed vancomycin 1.5 g IV every 12 hours.
The recommended safe dose range is 30-40 mg/kg/day. The patient weighs 60 kg.
Which of the following best describes the prescribed dose?
A. Below the recommended range
B. Within the recommended range
C. Above the recommended range
D. Cannot be determined without the dosing interval
Answer: B. Within the recommended range
The prescribed daily dose is 1.5 g × 2 = 3 g/day = 3000 mg/day. For a 60 kg patient, the
safe range is 30-40 mg/kg/day: 30×60=1800 mg to 40×60=2400 mg/day. 3000 mg/day
exceeds 2400 mg, so it is above the range. Option A is incorrect; Option B is incorrect;
Option C is correct; Option D is incorrect because the interval is given.
Page 3
, 5. A patient is to receive dopamine at 5 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 80 kg. The
concentration of dopamine is 400 mg in 250 mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 15 mL/hr
B. 18 mL/hr
C. 20 mL/hr
D. 22 mL/hr
Answer: A. 15 mL/hr
Dose per min: 5 mcg/kg/min × 80 kg = 400 mcg/min. Convert to mg/min: 400 mcg = 0.4
mg/min. Then mg/hr: 0.4 mg/min × 60 = 24 mg/hr. Concentration: 400 mg/250 mL = 1.6
mg/mL. Rate = 24 mg/hr ÷ 1.6 mg/mL = 15 mL/hr. Option B (18) uses 4.8 mg/hr;
Option C (20) uses 32 mg/hr; Option D (22) uses 35.2 mg/hr.
6. A patient is prescribed an IV infusion of nitroglycerin at 10 mcg/min. The
pharmacy supplies nitroglycerin 50 mg in 250 mL D5W. What rate in mL/hr should
the nurse set?
A. 3 mL/hr
B. 6 mL/hr
C. 9 mL/hr
D. 12 mL/hr
Answer: A. 3 mL/hr
Convert 10 mcg/min to mg/hr: 10 mcg/min × 60 = 600 mcg/hr = 0.6 mg/hr.
Concentration: 50 mg/250 mL = 0.2 mg/mL. Rate = 0.6 mg/hr ÷ 0.2 mg/mL = 3 mL/hr.
Option B (6) uses 1.2 mg/hr; Option C (9) uses 1.8 mg/hr; Option D (12) uses 2.4 mg/hr.
7. A patient needs an IV of 1000 mL of lactated Ringer's to infuse over 8 hours. The
IV set has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the drip rate in gtt/min?
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 63 gtt/min
Answer: B. 31 gtt/min
Total volume 1000 mL, time 8 hr = 480 min. Drip rate = (1000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) / 480
min = = 31.25 gtt/min, round to 31 gtt/min. Option A (21) uses 10 gtt/mL;
Option C (42) uses 20 gtt/mL; Option D (63) uses 30 gtt/mL.
Page 4
Questions With Explanations - Nightingale College - 179
Questions and Answers Already Graded A+ Premium Exam
Tested And Verified
Subject Area Nursing - Dosage Calculation and Medication Administration
Description This exam assesses advanced competency in dosage calculation, including
intravenous (IV) infusion rates, safe dose ranges, reconstitution, titration,
weight-based dosing, and critical care calculations. It integrates pharmacology,
pharmacokinetics, and patient safety standards aligned with Nightingale College's
BSN 215 curriculum.
Expected Grade A+
Total Questions 179
Duration 3 hours
Learning Outcomes 1. Accurately calculate IV flow rates, drip rates, and infusion times for various
clinical scenarios.
2. Determine safe dose ranges and verify ordered doses against formulary and
patient parameters.
3. Perform complex multi-step calculations involving weight-based dosing,
reconstitution, and titration.
4. Interpret medication labels and prescription orders to prevent medication errors.
5. Apply dimensional analysis and ratio-proportion methods to solve dosage
problems.
Accreditation This exam meets the rigorous standards of the Nightingale College BSN program
and prepares students for the HESI Dosage Calculation exam, which is required
for graduation and NCLEX-RN eligibility.
Page 1
,1. A patient with acute decompensated heart failure is prescribed a continuous
intravenous infusion of dobutamine at 5 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 70 kg. The
pharmacy supplies dobutamine 500 mg in 250 mL of D5W. Using an infusion pump
that delivers in mL/hr, what rate should the nurse set?
A. 10.5 mL/hr
B. 15.2 mL/hr
C. 21.0 mL/hr
D. 25.0 mL/hr
Answer: A. 10.5 mL/hr
First, calculate the dose per minute: 5 mcg/kg/min × 70 kg = 350 mcg/min. Convert to
mg/min: 350 mcg = 0.35 mg/min. Then mg/hr: 0.35 mg/min × 60 = 21 mg/hr.
Concentration: 500 mg/250 mL = 2 mg/mL. Rate = 21 mg/hr ÷ 2 mg/mL = 10.5 mL/hr.
Option B (15.2) results from incorrectly converting 350 mcg to 0.35 mg but then
dividing by 2.3; Option C (21) is the mg/hr dose, not mL/hr; Option D (25) uses 5
mg/kg/min.
2. A patient requires an IV infusion of 0.45% sodium chloride at 125 mL/hr. The
nurse uses a microdrip set with a drop factor of 60 gtt/mL. What is the correct drip
rate in drops per minute?
A. 125 gtt/min
B. 60 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min
D. 21 gtt/min
Answer: A. 125 gtt/min
Drip rate (gtt/min) = (Volume in mL/hr × Drop factor in gtt/mL) ÷ 60 min/hr. Here,
(125 mL/hr × 60 gtt/mL) ÷ 60 = 125 gtt/min. Option B (60) mistakenly uses the drop
factor as the rate; Option C (31) uses a drop factor of 15; Option D (21) uses 10 gtt/mL.
Page 2
,3. A patient is ordered heparin 18 units/kg/hr. The patient weighs 75 kg. The
pharmacy supplies heparin 25,000 units in 500 mL D5W. What rate in mL/hr should
the nurse program the infusion pump?
A. 27 mL/hr
B. 30 mL/hr
C. 33 mL/hr
D. 36 mL/hr
Answer: A. 27 mL/hr
Dose per hour: 18 units/kg/hr × 75 kg = 1350 units/hr. Concentration: 25,000 units/500
mL = 50 units/mL. Rate = 1350 units/hr ÷ 50 units/mL = 27 mL/hr. Option B (30)
results from 1500 units/hr (20 units/kg/hr); Option C (33) from 1650 units/hr; Option D
(36) from 1800 units/hr.
4. A patient with a severe infection is prescribed vancomycin 1.5 g IV every 12 hours.
The recommended safe dose range is 30-40 mg/kg/day. The patient weighs 60 kg.
Which of the following best describes the prescribed dose?
A. Below the recommended range
B. Within the recommended range
C. Above the recommended range
D. Cannot be determined without the dosing interval
Answer: B. Within the recommended range
The prescribed daily dose is 1.5 g × 2 = 3 g/day = 3000 mg/day. For a 60 kg patient, the
safe range is 30-40 mg/kg/day: 30×60=1800 mg to 40×60=2400 mg/day. 3000 mg/day
exceeds 2400 mg, so it is above the range. Option A is incorrect; Option B is incorrect;
Option C is correct; Option D is incorrect because the interval is given.
Page 3
, 5. A patient is to receive dopamine at 5 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 80 kg. The
concentration of dopamine is 400 mg in 250 mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 15 mL/hr
B. 18 mL/hr
C. 20 mL/hr
D. 22 mL/hr
Answer: A. 15 mL/hr
Dose per min: 5 mcg/kg/min × 80 kg = 400 mcg/min. Convert to mg/min: 400 mcg = 0.4
mg/min. Then mg/hr: 0.4 mg/min × 60 = 24 mg/hr. Concentration: 400 mg/250 mL = 1.6
mg/mL. Rate = 24 mg/hr ÷ 1.6 mg/mL = 15 mL/hr. Option B (18) uses 4.8 mg/hr;
Option C (20) uses 32 mg/hr; Option D (22) uses 35.2 mg/hr.
6. A patient is prescribed an IV infusion of nitroglycerin at 10 mcg/min. The
pharmacy supplies nitroglycerin 50 mg in 250 mL D5W. What rate in mL/hr should
the nurse set?
A. 3 mL/hr
B. 6 mL/hr
C. 9 mL/hr
D. 12 mL/hr
Answer: A. 3 mL/hr
Convert 10 mcg/min to mg/hr: 10 mcg/min × 60 = 600 mcg/hr = 0.6 mg/hr.
Concentration: 50 mg/250 mL = 0.2 mg/mL. Rate = 0.6 mg/hr ÷ 0.2 mg/mL = 3 mL/hr.
Option B (6) uses 1.2 mg/hr; Option C (9) uses 1.8 mg/hr; Option D (12) uses 2.4 mg/hr.
7. A patient needs an IV of 1000 mL of lactated Ringer's to infuse over 8 hours. The
IV set has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the drip rate in gtt/min?
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 63 gtt/min
Answer: B. 31 gtt/min
Total volume 1000 mL, time 8 hr = 480 min. Drip rate = (1000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) / 480
min = = 31.25 gtt/min, round to 31 gtt/min. Option A (21) uses 10 gtt/mL;
Option C (42) uses 20 gtt/mL; Option D (63) uses 30 gtt/mL.
Page 4
