Solving Problems Using Dimensional

DOSAGE CALCULATIONS MADE
EASY
SOLVING PROBLEMS USING
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
8TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)GLORIA PEARL
CRAIG




TEST BANK

,Question 1 (Easy)
A provider orders acetaminophen 650 mg PO. The medication
available is 325 mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse
administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 1.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 3 tablets
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Step 1: Set up dimensional analysis.
650 mg × (1 tablet / 325 mg)
Step 2: Cancel mg.
650 ÷ 325 = 2 tablets
Step 3: Administer 2 tablets.
Medication Safety Note:
Always verify the tablet strength before administration to avoid
underdosing or overdosing.


Question 2 (Easy)

,A patient is prescribed 15 mL of liquid medication. A household
teaspoon contains 5 mL. How many teaspoons should be given?
A. 2 tsp
B. 3 tsp
C. 4 tsp
D. 5 tsp
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Step 1:
15 mL × (1 tsp / 5 mL)
Step 2:
15 ÷ 5 = 3 tsp
Step 3:
Administer 3 teaspoons.
Medication Safety Note:
Use an oral dosing syringe or medication cup whenever possible
rather than household utensils.


Question 3 (Easy)
Convert 2.5 g to milligrams.

, A. 25 mg
B. 250 mg
C. 2,500 mg
D. 25,000 mg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Step 1:
2.5 g × (1000 mg / 1 g)
Step 2:
2.5 × 1000 = 2500 mg
Step 3:
The correct conversion is 2,500 mg.
Medication Safety Note:
Errors involving gram-to-milligram conversions can result in
thousand-fold dosing mistakes.


Question 4 (Easy)
A medication order reads 0.5 mg PO. The tablets available
contain 1 mg each. How many tablets should the nurse
administer?