ATI DOSAGE CALCULATIONS 2026/2027 – EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALE | 2027 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse is preparing to calculate a medication dose using the desired-over-have
method. Which information is essential for completing the calculation?
A. The client's diagnosis, age, and allergies
B. The prescribed dose, available dose, and quantity containing the available dose
C. The client's admission date and current weight
D. The medication's onset, peak, and duration of action
Rationale: The desired-over-have method uses the dose prescribed, the dose available, and the
quantity in which the available dose is supplied. The other information may be clinically relevant
but is not required for the mathematical calculation.
2. A medication is prescribed at 500 mg. The available tablets contain 250 mg each.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Rationale: Using desired ÷ have × quantity, 500 mg ÷ 250 mg × 1 tablet = 2 tablets.
3. A nurse needs to convert 2 g of a medication to milligrams before calculating the
dose. What is the equivalent amount?
A. 20 mg
B. 200 mg
C. 20,000 mg
D. 2,000 mg
Rationale: One gram equals 1,000 milligrams. Therefore, 2 g × 1,000 mg/g = 2,000 mg.
, 4. A prescription reads 750 mg PO. The medication is supplied as 250 mg tablets.
Which dose should the nurse prepare?
A. 3 tablets
B. 2.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 1.5 tablets
Rationale: The required dose is 750 mg and each tablet contains 250 mg. Therefore, 750 ÷ 250
= 3 tablets.
5. Which statement correctly describes dimensional analysis when calculating
medication doses?
A. It requires converting every medication into milligrams.
B. It uses only the desired-over-have formula.
C. It uses conversion factors arranged so unwanted units cancel.
D. It requires memorizing the dose of every medication.
Rationale: Dimensional analysis organizes quantities and conversion factors so that unwanted
units cancel and the desired unit remains in the final answer.
6. A medication order is written for 0.25 g. The available medication is labeled 125
mg per tablet. How many tablets are needed?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 4 tablets
D. 5 tablets
Rationale: First convert 0.25 g to 250 mg. Then calculate 250 mg ÷ 125 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
7. The nurse is reviewing medication-calculation terminology. What does the term
“desired” represent in the desired-over-have method?
A. The amount of medication contained in the package
,B. The amount of fluid used to dilute the medication
C. The total amount of medication available in the medication room
D. The amount of medication prescribed for the client
Rationale: The desired amount is the dose ordered by the prescriber. The available or “have”
amount refers to the medication strength supplied.
8. A client is prescribed 1,500 mg of a medication. The pharmacy supplies 500 mg
tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 3 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Rationale: Divide the prescribed dose by the strength available: 1,500 mg ÷ 500 mg/tablet = 3
tablets.
9. Which conversion is correct?
A. 1 mg = 100 mcg
B. 1 g = 100 mg
C. 1 mg = 1,000 mcg
D. 1 L = 100 mL
Rationale: One milligram equals 1,000 micrograms. Accurate metric conversions are essential
for safe medication calculations.
10. A medication is available as 80 mg/2 mL. The prescription is for 40 mg. How
many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 1 mL
B. 2 mL
C. 4 mL
D. 0.5 mL
, Rationale: The concentration is 80 mg in 2 mL. Forty milligrams is one-half of 80 mg, so the
corresponding volume is 1 mL.
11. A nurse is calculating an oral liquid dose using dimensional analysis. The
prescription is 300 mg, and the bottle is labeled 150 mg/5 mL. Which volume is
required?
A. 2.5 mL
B. 5 mL
C. 7.5 mL
D. 10 mL
Rationale: The concentration provides 150 mg in 5 mL. Since 300 mg is twice 150 mg, the
required volume is 10 mL.
12. The nurse receives an order for 0.5 mg of a medication. The available tablets
contain 250 mcg each. How many tablets should be administered?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Rationale: Convert 0.5 mg to 500 mcg. Then 500 mcg ÷ 250 mcg/tablet = 2 tablets.
13. A prescription requires 25 mg of a medication. The medication is supplied as 50
mg/2 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 mL
B. 1 mL
C. 2 mL
D. 4 mL
Rationale: The concentration is 50 mg in 2 mL. Twenty-five milligrams is one-half of 50 mg, so
the required volume is 1 mL.
14. Which measurement is equivalent to 1 liter?
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALE | 2027 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse is preparing to calculate a medication dose using the desired-over-have
method. Which information is essential for completing the calculation?
A. The client's diagnosis, age, and allergies
B. The prescribed dose, available dose, and quantity containing the available dose
C. The client's admission date and current weight
D. The medication's onset, peak, and duration of action
Rationale: The desired-over-have method uses the dose prescribed, the dose available, and the
quantity in which the available dose is supplied. The other information may be clinically relevant
but is not required for the mathematical calculation.
2. A medication is prescribed at 500 mg. The available tablets contain 250 mg each.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Rationale: Using desired ÷ have × quantity, 500 mg ÷ 250 mg × 1 tablet = 2 tablets.
3. A nurse needs to convert 2 g of a medication to milligrams before calculating the
dose. What is the equivalent amount?
A. 20 mg
B. 200 mg
C. 20,000 mg
D. 2,000 mg
Rationale: One gram equals 1,000 milligrams. Therefore, 2 g × 1,000 mg/g = 2,000 mg.
, 4. A prescription reads 750 mg PO. The medication is supplied as 250 mg tablets.
Which dose should the nurse prepare?
A. 3 tablets
B. 2.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 1.5 tablets
Rationale: The required dose is 750 mg and each tablet contains 250 mg. Therefore, 750 ÷ 250
= 3 tablets.
5. Which statement correctly describes dimensional analysis when calculating
medication doses?
A. It requires converting every medication into milligrams.
B. It uses only the desired-over-have formula.
C. It uses conversion factors arranged so unwanted units cancel.
D. It requires memorizing the dose of every medication.
Rationale: Dimensional analysis organizes quantities and conversion factors so that unwanted
units cancel and the desired unit remains in the final answer.
6. A medication order is written for 0.25 g. The available medication is labeled 125
mg per tablet. How many tablets are needed?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 4 tablets
D. 5 tablets
Rationale: First convert 0.25 g to 250 mg. Then calculate 250 mg ÷ 125 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
7. The nurse is reviewing medication-calculation terminology. What does the term
“desired” represent in the desired-over-have method?
A. The amount of medication contained in the package
,B. The amount of fluid used to dilute the medication
C. The total amount of medication available in the medication room
D. The amount of medication prescribed for the client
Rationale: The desired amount is the dose ordered by the prescriber. The available or “have”
amount refers to the medication strength supplied.
8. A client is prescribed 1,500 mg of a medication. The pharmacy supplies 500 mg
tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 3 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Rationale: Divide the prescribed dose by the strength available: 1,500 mg ÷ 500 mg/tablet = 3
tablets.
9. Which conversion is correct?
A. 1 mg = 100 mcg
B. 1 g = 100 mg
C. 1 mg = 1,000 mcg
D. 1 L = 100 mL
Rationale: One milligram equals 1,000 micrograms. Accurate metric conversions are essential
for safe medication calculations.
10. A medication is available as 80 mg/2 mL. The prescription is for 40 mg. How
many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 1 mL
B. 2 mL
C. 4 mL
D. 0.5 mL
, Rationale: The concentration is 80 mg in 2 mL. Forty milligrams is one-half of 80 mg, so the
corresponding volume is 1 mL.
11. A nurse is calculating an oral liquid dose using dimensional analysis. The
prescription is 300 mg, and the bottle is labeled 150 mg/5 mL. Which volume is
required?
A. 2.5 mL
B. 5 mL
C. 7.5 mL
D. 10 mL
Rationale: The concentration provides 150 mg in 5 mL. Since 300 mg is twice 150 mg, the
required volume is 10 mL.
12. The nurse receives an order for 0.5 mg of a medication. The available tablets
contain 250 mcg each. How many tablets should be administered?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Rationale: Convert 0.5 mg to 500 mcg. Then 500 mcg ÷ 250 mcg/tablet = 2 tablets.
13. A prescription requires 25 mg of a medication. The medication is supplied as 50
mg/2 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 mL
B. 1 mL
C. 2 mL
D. 4 mL
Rationale: The concentration is 50 mg in 2 mL. Twenty-five milligrams is one-half of 50 mg, so
the required volume is 1 mL.
14. Which measurement is equivalent to 1 liter?
