WGU D441 Medical Dosage Calculations and
Pharmacology 2026/2027 | Study Guide, Practice
Questions, Exam Prep, Dosage Calculations,
Pharmacology, Medication Safety & Detailed
Rationales
Question 1: A patient weighs 176 lb. What is this weight in
kilograms? (Round to the nearest tenth.)
A. 78.0 kg
B. 80.0 kg
C. 82.5 kg
D. 85.0 kg
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 80.0 kg
Rationale: To convert pounds to kilograms, divide the weight in pounds by
2.2. 176 lb ÷ 2.2 = 80.0 kg. Accurate weight conversion is essential for
weight-based medication dosing to prevent underdosing or overdosing.
Question 2: How many milligrams are in 0.75 grams?
A. 7.5 mg
B. 75 mg
C. 750 mg
D. 7,500 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 750 mg
Rationale: 1 gram equals 1,000 milligrams. Therefore, 0.75 g × 1,000 = 750
mg. Converting between grams and milligrams is a fundamental skill
required for safe medication administration.
Question 3: A medication is available as 0.25 mg per tablet. How
many micrograms are in each tablet?
A. 25 mcg
B. 250 mcg
C. 2,500 mcg
D. 25,000 mcg
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 250 mcg
Rationale: 1 milligram equals 1,000 micrograms. Therefore, 0.25 mg × 1,000
= 250 mcg. Microgram-to-milligram conversions are critical for high-alert
medications such as levothyroxine and digoxin.
,Question 4: The nurse needs to administer 1.5 L of IV fluid. How
many milliliters is this?
A. 150 mL
B. 1,500 mL
C. 15,000 mL
D. 150,000 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1,500 mL
Rationale: 1 liter equals 1,000 milliliters. Therefore, 1.5 L × 1,000 = 1,500
mL. Liter-to-milliliter conversions are routinely used for IV fluid volumes
and large-volume parenterals.
Question 5: A patient's intake is documented as 8 oz of water. How
many milliliters did the patient drink?
A. 120 mL
B. 180 mL
C. 240 mL
D. 300 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 240 mL
Rationale: 1 ounce equals 30 milliliters. Therefore, 8 oz × 30 = 240 mL. This
conversion is used for oral fluid intake documentation and liquid
medication administration.
Question 6: A provider orders 1,000 mL of 0.9% NaCl to infuse over
8 hours. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many
mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 200 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 125 mL/hr
Rationale: To calculate mL/hr, divide the total volume by the total time in
hours: 1,000 mL ÷ 8 hr = 125 mL/hr. This is the standard formula for
programming IV infusion pumps.
,Question 7: A client is prescribed 500 mg of medication PO. The
pharmacy supplies 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the
nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 1.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 2.5 tablets
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2 tablets
Rationale: Use the formula: (Ordered ÷ Have) × Quantity = (500 mg ÷ 250
mg) × 1 tablet = 2 tablets. This basic dosage calculation ensures the correct
number of tablets is administered.
Question 8: A client weighs 154 lb. What is the client's weight in
kilograms? (Round to the nearest tenth.)
A. 60 kg
B. 65 kg
C. 70 kg
D. 75 kg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 70 kg
Rationale: 1 kg equals 2.2 lb. Therefore, 154 lb ÷ 2.2 = 70 kg. Weight-based
dosing requires accurate conversion between pounds and kilograms.
Question 9: A medication is ordered at 0.5 mg/kg/day for a child
weighing 44 lb. How many mg should the child receive per day?
A. 5 mg
B. 10 mg
C. 15 mg
D. 20 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 10 mg
Rationale: First convert weight: 44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. Then calculate: 0.5 mg
× 20 kg = 10 mg/day. Weight-based pediatric dosing requires accurate
conversion before calculation.
Question 10: A client is prescribed 750 mg of medication IV. The
vial contains 1 g of powder. After reconstitution with 5 mL of
, diluent, the concentration is 1 g/5 mL. How many mL should the
nurse administer?
A. 2.5 mL
B. 3 mL
C. 3.75 mL
D. 5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 3.75 mL
Rationale: Convert 1 g to 1,000 mg. Use the formula: (Desired ÷ Have) ×
Volume = (750 mg ÷ 1,000 mg) × 5 mL = 3.75 mL. Reconstitution
calculations ensure accurate dosing of powdered medications.
Question 11: A client receives a prescription for dextrose 5% in
water 500 mL IV to be infused over 4 hours. The IV administration
set delivers 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse
regulate the infusion? (Round to the nearest whole number.)
A. 25 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 35 gtt/min
D. 42 gtt/min
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 31 gtt/min
Rationale: Flow rate (gtt/min) = (Total volume ÷ Time in minutes) × Drop
factor. 500 mL ÷ 240 min × 15 gtt/mL = 31.25, which rounds to 31
gtt/min. Manual IV flow rate calculations are used when infusion pumps
are unavailable.
Question 12: A client receives a prescription for penicillin G
1,000,000 units IM daily. The medication is available in 1,200,000
units/2 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round to
the nearest tenth.)
A. 1.4 mL
B. 1.7 mL
C. 2.0 mL
D. 2.4 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1.7 mL
Pharmacology 2026/2027 | Study Guide, Practice
Questions, Exam Prep, Dosage Calculations,
Pharmacology, Medication Safety & Detailed
Rationales
Question 1: A patient weighs 176 lb. What is this weight in
kilograms? (Round to the nearest tenth.)
A. 78.0 kg
B. 80.0 kg
C. 82.5 kg
D. 85.0 kg
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 80.0 kg
Rationale: To convert pounds to kilograms, divide the weight in pounds by
2.2. 176 lb ÷ 2.2 = 80.0 kg. Accurate weight conversion is essential for
weight-based medication dosing to prevent underdosing or overdosing.
Question 2: How many milligrams are in 0.75 grams?
A. 7.5 mg
B. 75 mg
C. 750 mg
D. 7,500 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 750 mg
Rationale: 1 gram equals 1,000 milligrams. Therefore, 0.75 g × 1,000 = 750
mg. Converting between grams and milligrams is a fundamental skill
required for safe medication administration.
Question 3: A medication is available as 0.25 mg per tablet. How
many micrograms are in each tablet?
A. 25 mcg
B. 250 mcg
C. 2,500 mcg
D. 25,000 mcg
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 250 mcg
Rationale: 1 milligram equals 1,000 micrograms. Therefore, 0.25 mg × 1,000
= 250 mcg. Microgram-to-milligram conversions are critical for high-alert
medications such as levothyroxine and digoxin.
,Question 4: The nurse needs to administer 1.5 L of IV fluid. How
many milliliters is this?
A. 150 mL
B. 1,500 mL
C. 15,000 mL
D. 150,000 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1,500 mL
Rationale: 1 liter equals 1,000 milliliters. Therefore, 1.5 L × 1,000 = 1,500
mL. Liter-to-milliliter conversions are routinely used for IV fluid volumes
and large-volume parenterals.
Question 5: A patient's intake is documented as 8 oz of water. How
many milliliters did the patient drink?
A. 120 mL
B. 180 mL
C. 240 mL
D. 300 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 240 mL
Rationale: 1 ounce equals 30 milliliters. Therefore, 8 oz × 30 = 240 mL. This
conversion is used for oral fluid intake documentation and liquid
medication administration.
Question 6: A provider orders 1,000 mL of 0.9% NaCl to infuse over
8 hours. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many
mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 200 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 125 mL/hr
Rationale: To calculate mL/hr, divide the total volume by the total time in
hours: 1,000 mL ÷ 8 hr = 125 mL/hr. This is the standard formula for
programming IV infusion pumps.
,Question 7: A client is prescribed 500 mg of medication PO. The
pharmacy supplies 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the
nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 1.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 2.5 tablets
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2 tablets
Rationale: Use the formula: (Ordered ÷ Have) × Quantity = (500 mg ÷ 250
mg) × 1 tablet = 2 tablets. This basic dosage calculation ensures the correct
number of tablets is administered.
Question 8: A client weighs 154 lb. What is the client's weight in
kilograms? (Round to the nearest tenth.)
A. 60 kg
B. 65 kg
C. 70 kg
D. 75 kg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 70 kg
Rationale: 1 kg equals 2.2 lb. Therefore, 154 lb ÷ 2.2 = 70 kg. Weight-based
dosing requires accurate conversion between pounds and kilograms.
Question 9: A medication is ordered at 0.5 mg/kg/day for a child
weighing 44 lb. How many mg should the child receive per day?
A. 5 mg
B. 10 mg
C. 15 mg
D. 20 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 10 mg
Rationale: First convert weight: 44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. Then calculate: 0.5 mg
× 20 kg = 10 mg/day. Weight-based pediatric dosing requires accurate
conversion before calculation.
Question 10: A client is prescribed 750 mg of medication IV. The
vial contains 1 g of powder. After reconstitution with 5 mL of
, diluent, the concentration is 1 g/5 mL. How many mL should the
nurse administer?
A. 2.5 mL
B. 3 mL
C. 3.75 mL
D. 5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 3.75 mL
Rationale: Convert 1 g to 1,000 mg. Use the formula: (Desired ÷ Have) ×
Volume = (750 mg ÷ 1,000 mg) × 5 mL = 3.75 mL. Reconstitution
calculations ensure accurate dosing of powdered medications.
Question 11: A client receives a prescription for dextrose 5% in
water 500 mL IV to be infused over 4 hours. The IV administration
set delivers 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse
regulate the infusion? (Round to the nearest whole number.)
A. 25 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 35 gtt/min
D. 42 gtt/min
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 31 gtt/min
Rationale: Flow rate (gtt/min) = (Total volume ÷ Time in minutes) × Drop
factor. 500 mL ÷ 240 min × 15 gtt/mL = 31.25, which rounds to 31
gtt/min. Manual IV flow rate calculations are used when infusion pumps
are unavailable.
Question 12: A client receives a prescription for penicillin G
1,000,000 units IM daily. The medication is available in 1,200,000
units/2 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round to
the nearest tenth.)
A. 1.4 mL
B. 1.7 mL
C. 2.0 mL
D. 2.4 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1.7 mL
