BSN 315 Pharmacology Dosage Calculation Exam Practice Question s
and Answers – Latest 2026 Update
Question 1
A client is prescribed digoxin 0.25 mg PO daily. The medication is
available in 0.125 mg scored tablets. How many tablets should the
nurse administer per dose?
• A. 0.5 tablet
• B. 1 tablet
• C. 1.5 tablets
• D. 2 tablets
Correct Answer: D. 2 tablets
Detailed Rationale: Using the formula (Desired/Have) ×
Quantity:(0.25 mg/0.125 mg) × 1 tablet = 2 tablets.
Question 2
A client is prescribed cefadroxil oral suspension 500 mg PO BID. The
pharmacy provides cefadroxil suspension labeled 250 mg/5 mL. How
many milliliters should the nurse administer per dose?
• A. 2.5 mL
• B. 5 mL
• C. 10 mL
• D. 12.5 mL
Correct Answer: C. 10 mL
,Detailed Rationale: Using the formula (Desired/Have) ×
Volume:(500 mg/250 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 = 10 mL.
Question 3
A pediatric client weighing 33 lbs is prescribed ibuprofen 10 mg/kg PO
every 6 hours PRN for fever. The available liquid suspension is 100 mg/5
mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer for a single dose?
(Round weight to the nearest whole kilogram, where 1 kg = 2.2 lbs)
• A. 5 mL
• B. 7.5 mL
• C. 10 mL
• D. 15 mL
Correct Answer: B. 7.5 mL
Detailed Rationale:
1. Convert weight to kg: 33 lbs/2.2 = 15 kg.
2. Calculate total dose: 15 kg × 10 mg/kg = 150 mg.
3. Calculate volume: (150 mg/100 mg) × 5 mL = 1.5 × 5 = 7.5 mL.
Question 4
A client requires an emergent dose of furosemide 40 mg IV stat. The
medication vial is labeled 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the
nurse draw up to administer the correct dose?
• A. 2 mL
• B. 3 mL
• C. 4 mL
, • D. 5 mL
Correct Answer: C. 4 mL
Detailed Rationale: Using the formula (Desired/Have):40 mg/
10 mg/mL = 4 mL.
Question 5
A nurse is programming an electronic infusion pump to deliver 1,000 mL
of Normal Saline over 8 hours. At what rate in mL/hr should the pump
be set?
• A. 100 mL/hr
• B. 110 mL/hr
• C. 125 mL/hr
• D. 150 mL/hr
Correct Answer: C. 125 mL/hr
Detailed Rationale: Calculate the hourly flow rate by dividing total
volume by total hours:1000 mL/8 hours = 125 mL/hr.
Question 6
An intravenous infusion of 500 mL of D5W is prescribed to run over 4
hours. The IV administration set has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is
the flow rate in drops per minute? (Round to the nearest whole number)
• A. 28 gtt/min
• B. 31 gtt/min
• C. 35 gtt/min
• D. 42 gtt/min
, Correct Answer: B. 31 gtt/min
Detailed Rationale: Using the formula (Volume in mL × Drop Factor)/
Time in minutes:
1. Convert time to minutes: 4 hours × 60 min/hr = 240 minutes.
2. Calculate drop rate: (500 × 15)/240 = 7500/240 =
31.25 gtt/min, which rounds to 31 gtt/min.
Question 7
A client weighing 80 kg is receiving a dopamine infusion ordered at 5
mcg/kg/min. The IV bag contains 400 mg of dopamine in 250 mL of
D5W. What should the infusion rate be set to in mL/hr? (Round to the
nearest whole number)
• A. 10 mL/hr
• B. 15 mL/hr
• C. 20 mL/hr
• D. 25 mL/hr
Correct Answer: B. 15 mL/hr
Detailed Rationale:
1. Calculate total concentration: 400 mg = 400,000 mcg.
Concentration = 400,000 mcg/250 mL = 1,600 mcg/mL.
2. Calculate required dose per minute: 5 mcg × 80 kg =
400 mcg/min.
3. Calculate dose per hour: 400 mcg/min × 60 min/hr =
24,000 mcg/hr.
and Answers – Latest 2026 Update
Question 1
A client is prescribed digoxin 0.25 mg PO daily. The medication is
available in 0.125 mg scored tablets. How many tablets should the
nurse administer per dose?
• A. 0.5 tablet
• B. 1 tablet
• C. 1.5 tablets
• D. 2 tablets
Correct Answer: D. 2 tablets
Detailed Rationale: Using the formula (Desired/Have) ×
Quantity:(0.25 mg/0.125 mg) × 1 tablet = 2 tablets.
Question 2
A client is prescribed cefadroxil oral suspension 500 mg PO BID. The
pharmacy provides cefadroxil suspension labeled 250 mg/5 mL. How
many milliliters should the nurse administer per dose?
• A. 2.5 mL
• B. 5 mL
• C. 10 mL
• D. 12.5 mL
Correct Answer: C. 10 mL
,Detailed Rationale: Using the formula (Desired/Have) ×
Volume:(500 mg/250 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 = 10 mL.
Question 3
A pediatric client weighing 33 lbs is prescribed ibuprofen 10 mg/kg PO
every 6 hours PRN for fever. The available liquid suspension is 100 mg/5
mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer for a single dose?
(Round weight to the nearest whole kilogram, where 1 kg = 2.2 lbs)
• A. 5 mL
• B. 7.5 mL
• C. 10 mL
• D. 15 mL
Correct Answer: B. 7.5 mL
Detailed Rationale:
1. Convert weight to kg: 33 lbs/2.2 = 15 kg.
2. Calculate total dose: 15 kg × 10 mg/kg = 150 mg.
3. Calculate volume: (150 mg/100 mg) × 5 mL = 1.5 × 5 = 7.5 mL.
Question 4
A client requires an emergent dose of furosemide 40 mg IV stat. The
medication vial is labeled 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the
nurse draw up to administer the correct dose?
• A. 2 mL
• B. 3 mL
• C. 4 mL
, • D. 5 mL
Correct Answer: C. 4 mL
Detailed Rationale: Using the formula (Desired/Have):40 mg/
10 mg/mL = 4 mL.
Question 5
A nurse is programming an electronic infusion pump to deliver 1,000 mL
of Normal Saline over 8 hours. At what rate in mL/hr should the pump
be set?
• A. 100 mL/hr
• B. 110 mL/hr
• C. 125 mL/hr
• D. 150 mL/hr
Correct Answer: C. 125 mL/hr
Detailed Rationale: Calculate the hourly flow rate by dividing total
volume by total hours:1000 mL/8 hours = 125 mL/hr.
Question 6
An intravenous infusion of 500 mL of D5W is prescribed to run over 4
hours. The IV administration set has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is
the flow rate in drops per minute? (Round to the nearest whole number)
• A. 28 gtt/min
• B. 31 gtt/min
• C. 35 gtt/min
• D. 42 gtt/min
, Correct Answer: B. 31 gtt/min
Detailed Rationale: Using the formula (Volume in mL × Drop Factor)/
Time in minutes:
1. Convert time to minutes: 4 hours × 60 min/hr = 240 minutes.
2. Calculate drop rate: (500 × 15)/240 = 7500/240 =
31.25 gtt/min, which rounds to 31 gtt/min.
Question 7
A client weighing 80 kg is receiving a dopamine infusion ordered at 5
mcg/kg/min. The IV bag contains 400 mg of dopamine in 250 mL of
D5W. What should the infusion rate be set to in mL/hr? (Round to the
nearest whole number)
• A. 10 mL/hr
• B. 15 mL/hr
• C. 20 mL/hr
• D. 25 mL/hr
Correct Answer: B. 15 mL/hr
Detailed Rationale:
1. Calculate total concentration: 400 mg = 400,000 mcg.
Concentration = 400,000 mcg/250 mL = 1,600 mcg/mL.
2. Calculate required dose per minute: 5 mcg × 80 kg =
400 mcg/min.
3. Calculate dose per hour: 400 mcg/min × 60 min/hr =
24,000 mcg/hr.
