| RN Advanced Math Ability Practice Questions &
Answers, Nursing Dosage Calculations, Medication
Math, IV Flow Rates, Dimensional Analysis, Weight-
Based Dosing, Unit Conversions, IV Infusions,
Insulin Calculations & Clinical Math Review
Question 1: A medication is prescribed at 2.5 mg/kg/day in two divided doses.
The patient weighs 176 lbs. What is the amount per dose in milligrams?
A. 100 mg
B. 200 mg
C. 400 mg
D. 50 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 100 mg
Rationale: First convert weight to kilograms: 176 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 80 kg. Total daily dose =
2.5 mg/kg × 80 kg = 200 mg/day. Divide by two doses = 100 mg per dose.
Question 2: An IV infusion of 1000 mL D5W is ordered to infuse over 8 hours.
The IV tubing drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What is the drip rate in gtt/min?
A. 31 gtt/min
B. 125 gtt/min
C. 21 gtt/min
D. 42 gtt/min
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 31 gtt/min
Rationale: Total time in minutes = 8 × 60 = 480 minutes. Infusion rate = 1000 mL ÷ 480
min = 2.083 mL/min. Drip rate = 2.083 mL/min × 15 gtt/mL = 31.25 ≈ 31 gtt/min.
Question 3: A patient is receiving heparin at 18 mL/hr. The concentration is
25,000 units in 500 mL D5W. How many units per hour is the patient receiving?
A. 450 units/hr
B. 900 units/hr
C. 500 units/hr
D. 1,250 units/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 900 units/hr
Rationale: Concentration = 25,000 units ÷ 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Dose = 18 mL/hr ×
50 units/mL = 900 units/hr.
Question 4: A child weighing 33 lb is prescribed amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day
divided every 12 hours. What is the dose per administration in milligrams?
A. 600 mg
B. 300 mg
,C. 150 mg
D. 75 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 300 mg
Rationale: Convert weight: 33 lb ÷ 2.2 = 15 kg. Daily dose = 40 mg × 15 kg = 600
mg/day. Divided every 12 hours = 2 doses: 600 ÷ 2 = 300 mg per dose.
Question 5: A patient consumed 8 oz of water, 4 oz of milk, and 6 oz of orange
juice. What is the total intake in mL?
A. 180 mL
B. 360 mL
C. 540 mL
D. 720 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 540 mL
Rationale: 1 oz = 30 mL. Total ounces = 8 + 4 + 6 = 18 oz. Total mL = 18 × 30 = 540
mL.
Question 6: An IV antibiotic is reconstituted to a concentration of 500 mg/100
mL. The ordered dose is 250 mg. How many mL will you administer?
A. 25 mL
B. 50 mL
C. 75 mL
D. 100 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 50 mL
Rationale: Concentration = 500 mg/100 mL = 5 mg/mL. Required volume = 250 mg ÷
5 mg/mL = 50 mL.
Question 7: A patient's intake for the shift was 1200 mL IV fluids, 240 mL oral
fluids, and 480 mL via feeding tube. Output was 1600 mL urine. What is the net
fluid balance for the shift?
A. +320 mL
B. -320 mL
C. +240 mL
D. -160 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: A. +320 mL
Rationale: Total intake = 1200 + 240 + 480 = 1920 mL. Total output = 1600 mL. Net =
1920 - 1600 = +320 mL.
Question 8: A patient is prescribed 0.9% NaCl at 125 mL/hr. How many liters
will the patient receive over a 24-hour period?
,A. 1.5 L
B. 2.0 L
C. 2.5 L
D. 3.0 L
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 3.0 L
Rationale: 125 mL/hr × 24 hr = 3000 mL. Convert to liters: 3000 mL ÷ 1000 = 3.0 L.
Question 9: A medication is available in 150 mg tablets. The order is for 0.3 g.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 1.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 2 tablets
Rationale: Convert 0.3 g to mg: 0.3 × 1000 = 300 mg. Number of tablets = 300 mg ÷
150 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
Question 10: The recommended dose of a drug is 7.5 mg/kg. The patient
weighs 198 lbs. What is the total daily dose in mg?
A. 675 mg
B. 1,485 mg
C. 675 mg
D. 1,350 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 675 mg
Rationale: Weight in kg = 198 ÷ 2.2 = 90 kg. Dose = 7.5 mg/kg × 90 kg = 675 mg.
Question 11: A patient has an IV infusing at 75 mL/hr. At this rate, how many
hours will it take for 500 mL to infuse? (Round to the nearest tenth)
A. 6.5 hours
B. 6.7 hours
C. 5.5 hours
D. 7.2 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 6.7 hours
Rationale: Time = Volume ÷ Rate = 500 mL ÷ 75 mL/hr = 6.666 ≈ 6.7 hours.
Question 12: A nurse must administer 30 mL of a liquid medication. How many
tablespoons is this?
A. 1 tablespoon
B. 2 tablespoons
, C. 3 tablespoons
D. 4 tablespoons
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2 tablespoons
Rationale: 1 tablespoon = 15 mL. 30 mL ÷ 15 mL/tbsp = 2 tablespoons.
Question 13: A patient's total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solution contains 500
mL of amino acids at 8.5%. How many grams of protein are in this solution?
A. 42.5 g
B. 85 g
C. 170 g
D. 21.25 g
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 42.5 g
Rationale: 8.5% solution = 8.5 g per 100 mL. Grams = 500 mL × (8.5 g/100 mL) = 42.5
g.
Question 14: A medication is ordered as 0.05 mg/kg. The patient weighs 165
lbs. What is the dose in mcg? (Round to nearest whole number)
A. 3,750 mcg
B. 3,500 mcg
C. 3,250 mcg
D. 3,000 mcg
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 3,750 mcg
Rationale: Weight in kg = 165 ÷ 2.2 = 75 kg. Dose in mg = 0.05 × 75 = 3.75 mg.
Convert to mcg: 3.75 × 1000 = 3,750 mcg.
Question 15: An IV is running at 125 mL/hr. The nurse needs to verify the
volume infused over the last 5 hours. What volume has infused?
A. 500 mL
B. 625 mL
C. 750 mL
D. 875 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 625 mL
Rationale: Volume = Rate × Time = 125 mL/hr × 5 hr = 625 mL.
Question 16: The patient's blood glucose is 220 mg/dL. The sliding scale
orders 4 units of regular insulin for glucose 201-250. How many units will the
patient receive?
A. 2 units
B. 3 units