Calculate with Confidence Advanced Prep:
Master Clinical Dosage Calculations &
Medication Administration Practice
Questions & Detailed Explanations
Subject: Medication Dosage Calculations (Based on Morris, 8th Ed.) / Chapters
1-25: Metric Conversions, Oral & Parenteral Dosing, IV Flow Rates, and
Pediatric Dosage
Question 1: An order specifies 1.5 grams of a medication in a liquid suspension with a
concentration of 250 mg per 5 mL. If the patient is prescribed this dose every 8 hours, what is the
total volume in milliliters the patient will receive in a 24-hour period?
A) 30 mL
B) 60 mL
C) 90 mL
D) 120 mL
Correct Answer: C) 90 mL
Explanation: First, convert the ordered dose to mg: 1.5 g = 1500 mg. Calculate the volume per
dose: (1500 mg / 250 mg) × 5 mL = 30 mL. Since the dose is every 8 hours, the patient receives
3 doses in 24 hours: 30 mL × 3 = 90 mL.
Question 2: A physician orders 0.75 mg of Digoxin. The pharmacy supplies 0.25 mg tablets.
How many tablets should the nurse administer to fulfill the order?
A) 2 tablets
B) 2.5 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 3.5 tablets
Correct Answer: C) 3 tablets
,Explanation: Using the ratio and proportion method: (0.75 mg / 0.25 mg) × 1 tablet = 3 tablets.
This requires accurate decimal-to-whole-number conversion and understanding of common
tablet strengths.
Question 3: A patient requires an IV infusion of 1000 mL Normal Saline to be infused over 10
hours. The IV tubing has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the correct flow rate in gtt/min?
A) 15 gtt/min
B) 20 gtt/min
C) 25 gtt/min
D) 30 gtt/min
Correct Answer: C) 25 gtt/min
Explanation: Calculate mL/hr: 1000 mL / 10 hr = 100 mL/hr. Calculate gtt/min: (100 mL × 15
gtt/mL) / 60 min = = 25 gtt/min.
Question 4: An infant weighing 12.5 kg is ordered a medication at a dose of 5 mg/kg per dose,
every 6 hours. If the stock concentration is 10 mg/mL, how many milliliters should be
administered per dose?
A) 6.25 mL
B) 1.25 mL
C) 0.625 mL
D) 2.5 mL
Correct Answer: A) 6.25 mL
Explanation: Calculate total mg per dose: 12.5 kg × 5 mg/kg = 62.5 mg. Calculate volume: 62.5
mg / 10 mg/mL = 6.25 mL.
Question 5: A client is to receive Heparin 1500 units per hour. The IV bag contains 25,000 units
of Heparin in 500 mL of D5W. At what rate in mL/hr should the infusion pump be set?
A) 15 mL/hr
B) 20 mL/hr
C) 30 mL/hr
,D) 40 mL/hr
Correct Answer: C) 30 mL/hr
Explanation: Determine concentration: 25,000 units / 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Calculate mL/hr:
1500 units/hr / 50 units/mL = 30 mL/hr.
Question 6: A patient is ordered 250 mg of a medication IM. The medication is reconstituted to a
concentration of 100 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse draw up?
A) 2.0 mL
B) 2.5 mL
C) 3.0 mL
D) 1.5 mL
Correct Answer: B) 2.5 mL
Explanation: Calculation: (Ordered 250 mg / Have 100 mg) × 1 mL = 2.5 mL. This test assesses
basic ratio/proportion mastery in a parenteral context.
Question 7: A physician orders Tylenol 325 mg PO. The bottle contains 650 mg/10 mL. How
many teaspoons should the nurse administer? (Note: 5 mL = 1 tsp)
A) 1 tsp
B) 2 tsp
C) 0.5 tsp
D) 1.5 tsp
Correct Answer: A) 1 tsp
Explanation: Calculate volume in mL: (325 mg / 650 mg) × 10 mL = 5 mL. Since 5 mL = 1 tsp,
the correct dose is 1 tsp.
Question 8: An antibiotic is ordered at 40 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses. The patient weighs 40
kg. What is the amount per dose in milligrams?
A) 1600 mg
B) 800 mg
, C) 400 mg
D) 200 mg
Correct Answer: C) 400 mg
Explanation: Calculate total daily dose: 40 mg × 40 kg = 1600 mg/day. Calculate amount per
dose: 1600 mg / 4 doses = 400 mg/dose.
Question 9: A patient is to receive 500 mL of IV fluid over 4 hours. The drop factor is 20 gtt/mL.
What is the infusion rate in gtt/min?
A) 40 gtt/min
B) 41.6 gtt/min
C) 42 gtt/min
D) 35 gtt/min
Correct Answer: C) 42 gtt/min
Explanation: mL/hr: = 125 mL/hr. gtt/min: (125 × 20) / 60 = = 41.666...
Rounding to the nearest whole drop is standard practice for manual gravity infusions: 42
gtt/min.
Question 10: You have 1 L of IV solution to infuse over 8 hours. The infusion pump is available.
What rate in mL/hr should be set?
A) 100 mL/hr
B) 125 mL/hr
C) 150 mL/hr
D) 80 mL/hr
Correct Answer: B) 125 mL/hr
Explanation: 1 L = 1000 mL. 1000 mL / 8 hours = 125 mL/hr. A fundamental calculation for
electronic pump management.
Question 11: A patient weighs 180 lbs. What is the patient's weight in kilograms? (Round to the
nearest tenth)
A) 81.6 kg
Master Clinical Dosage Calculations &
Medication Administration Practice
Questions & Detailed Explanations
Subject: Medication Dosage Calculations (Based on Morris, 8th Ed.) / Chapters
1-25: Metric Conversions, Oral & Parenteral Dosing, IV Flow Rates, and
Pediatric Dosage
Question 1: An order specifies 1.5 grams of a medication in a liquid suspension with a
concentration of 250 mg per 5 mL. If the patient is prescribed this dose every 8 hours, what is the
total volume in milliliters the patient will receive in a 24-hour period?
A) 30 mL
B) 60 mL
C) 90 mL
D) 120 mL
Correct Answer: C) 90 mL
Explanation: First, convert the ordered dose to mg: 1.5 g = 1500 mg. Calculate the volume per
dose: (1500 mg / 250 mg) × 5 mL = 30 mL. Since the dose is every 8 hours, the patient receives
3 doses in 24 hours: 30 mL × 3 = 90 mL.
Question 2: A physician orders 0.75 mg of Digoxin. The pharmacy supplies 0.25 mg tablets.
How many tablets should the nurse administer to fulfill the order?
A) 2 tablets
B) 2.5 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 3.5 tablets
Correct Answer: C) 3 tablets
,Explanation: Using the ratio and proportion method: (0.75 mg / 0.25 mg) × 1 tablet = 3 tablets.
This requires accurate decimal-to-whole-number conversion and understanding of common
tablet strengths.
Question 3: A patient requires an IV infusion of 1000 mL Normal Saline to be infused over 10
hours. The IV tubing has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the correct flow rate in gtt/min?
A) 15 gtt/min
B) 20 gtt/min
C) 25 gtt/min
D) 30 gtt/min
Correct Answer: C) 25 gtt/min
Explanation: Calculate mL/hr: 1000 mL / 10 hr = 100 mL/hr. Calculate gtt/min: (100 mL × 15
gtt/mL) / 60 min = = 25 gtt/min.
Question 4: An infant weighing 12.5 kg is ordered a medication at a dose of 5 mg/kg per dose,
every 6 hours. If the stock concentration is 10 mg/mL, how many milliliters should be
administered per dose?
A) 6.25 mL
B) 1.25 mL
C) 0.625 mL
D) 2.5 mL
Correct Answer: A) 6.25 mL
Explanation: Calculate total mg per dose: 12.5 kg × 5 mg/kg = 62.5 mg. Calculate volume: 62.5
mg / 10 mg/mL = 6.25 mL.
Question 5: A client is to receive Heparin 1500 units per hour. The IV bag contains 25,000 units
of Heparin in 500 mL of D5W. At what rate in mL/hr should the infusion pump be set?
A) 15 mL/hr
B) 20 mL/hr
C) 30 mL/hr
,D) 40 mL/hr
Correct Answer: C) 30 mL/hr
Explanation: Determine concentration: 25,000 units / 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Calculate mL/hr:
1500 units/hr / 50 units/mL = 30 mL/hr.
Question 6: A patient is ordered 250 mg of a medication IM. The medication is reconstituted to a
concentration of 100 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse draw up?
A) 2.0 mL
B) 2.5 mL
C) 3.0 mL
D) 1.5 mL
Correct Answer: B) 2.5 mL
Explanation: Calculation: (Ordered 250 mg / Have 100 mg) × 1 mL = 2.5 mL. This test assesses
basic ratio/proportion mastery in a parenteral context.
Question 7: A physician orders Tylenol 325 mg PO. The bottle contains 650 mg/10 mL. How
many teaspoons should the nurse administer? (Note: 5 mL = 1 tsp)
A) 1 tsp
B) 2 tsp
C) 0.5 tsp
D) 1.5 tsp
Correct Answer: A) 1 tsp
Explanation: Calculate volume in mL: (325 mg / 650 mg) × 10 mL = 5 mL. Since 5 mL = 1 tsp,
the correct dose is 1 tsp.
Question 8: An antibiotic is ordered at 40 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses. The patient weighs 40
kg. What is the amount per dose in milligrams?
A) 1600 mg
B) 800 mg
, C) 400 mg
D) 200 mg
Correct Answer: C) 400 mg
Explanation: Calculate total daily dose: 40 mg × 40 kg = 1600 mg/day. Calculate amount per
dose: 1600 mg / 4 doses = 400 mg/dose.
Question 9: A patient is to receive 500 mL of IV fluid over 4 hours. The drop factor is 20 gtt/mL.
What is the infusion rate in gtt/min?
A) 40 gtt/min
B) 41.6 gtt/min
C) 42 gtt/min
D) 35 gtt/min
Correct Answer: C) 42 gtt/min
Explanation: mL/hr: = 125 mL/hr. gtt/min: (125 × 20) / 60 = = 41.666...
Rounding to the nearest whole drop is standard practice for manual gravity infusions: 42
gtt/min.
Question 10: You have 1 L of IV solution to infuse over 8 hours. The infusion pump is available.
What rate in mL/hr should be set?
A) 100 mL/hr
B) 125 mL/hr
C) 150 mL/hr
D) 80 mL/hr
Correct Answer: B) 125 mL/hr
Explanation: 1 L = 1000 mL. 1000 mL / 8 hours = 125 mL/hr. A fundamental calculation for
electronic pump management.
Question 11: A patient weighs 180 lbs. What is the patient's weight in kilograms? (Round to the
nearest tenth)
A) 81.6 kg
