DOSAGE CALCULATIONS HESI EXAM 2024 WITH 150
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
& ALL WORKOUT/FORMULAS SHOWN/ HESI EXAM
DOSAGE CALCULATION PROBLEMS PRACTICE/
HESI MED CALC QUESTIONS ANSWERS (NEW!!)
A client with pericardial effusion has phrenic nerve compression resulting in
recurrent hiccups. The healthcare provider prescribes metoclopramide (Reglan)
liquid 10 mg PO q6 hours. Reglan is available as 5 mg/5 ml. A measuring device
marked in teaspoons is being used. How many teaspoons should the practical
nurse administer?
2
First, using the formula, Desired dose/dose on Hand x Quantity of volume on
hand (D/H x Q),
10 mg / 5 mg x 5ml = 10 ml
Next using the known conversion of 5 ml = 1 tsp:
5 ml : 1 tsp :: 10 ml : X
: 1 / X
5X = 10
X=2
A client who has a sinus infection is receiving a prescription for
amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium (Augmentin) 500 mg PO q8 hours. The
available form is 250 mg amoxicillin/125mg clavulanate tablets. How many
tablets should the practical nurse administer for each dose? (Enter numeric value
only.)
2
Using the known equivalent, 1 gram = 1000 mg, the nurse should first convert the
dose to the same unit of measurement, which is 1 gram = 1000 mg.
Using the formula, Desired / Available x 1 tablets:
1000 mg / 500 mg x 1 = 2 tablets
pg. 1
,A client with type 2 diabetes is receiving metformin (Glucophage) 1 gram PO
twice daily. The medication is available in 500 mg tablets. How many tablets
should the practical nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.)
2
Using the known equivalent, 1 gram = 1000 mg, the nurse should first convert the
dose to the same unit of measurement, which is 1 gram = 1000 mg.
Using the formula, Desired / Available x 1 tablets:
1000 mg / 500 mg x 1 = 2 tablets
A client who had a small bowel resection two weeks ago is receiving 3/4 strength
Ensure feedings 275 ml q4 hours via nasogastric tube. Full strength Ensure is
available in a 240 ml can. The practical nurse (PN) should use how many ml of
Ensure to prepare the feeding? (Enter numeric value only. Round to nearest whole
number if needed.)
206
Using the formula Desired % / on Hand % x Volume Desired =
75/100 x 275 = .75 x 275 = 206 Ensure
206 ml Ensure + 69ml water = 275 ml (75% solution)
The healthcare provider prescribes an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride with
40 mEq KCl/500 ml to infuse over 3 hours for a client with hypokalemia. The
practical nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole
number.)
167
To determine ml/hour:
500 ml : 3 hours :: as X ml : 1 hour
500/X :: 3/1
500 = 3X
X = 166.66 (rounds to)= 167 ml/hour
A child weighing 28.4 kg is hypertensive. The healthcare provider prescibes
methyldopa (Aldomet) 40 mg/kg/day IV in 4 divided doses. The pharmacy
provides a 50 mg/ml injection vial. How many ml should the practical nurse
pg. 2
,administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest tenth.)
5.7
First calculate the total mg dose/day:
40 mg x 28.4 kg = 1136 mg/day
Next divide the total mg into the 4 dosages for the day:
1136 mg/4 doses = 284 mg/dose
Using the Desired/Have formula:
284mg/50mg x 1 ml = 5.68 ml/ dose or 5.7 ml.
A client with a gastrostomy tube (GT) receives a prescription for Osmolite 1/2
strength enteral formula at 80 ml/hour. To prepare a 4 hour solution, the PN
should dilute the full-strength formula with how many ml of water? (Enter
numeric value only.)
160
Determine the total volume needed at 80 ml/hour x 4 hours = 320 ml. Use the
formula, Desired strength/strength on Hand x Volume = 50/100 x 320 = 160 ml of
Osmolite enteral formula, which must be diluted to half strength.
Or use ratio and proportion, Desired strength (1/2 = 1 part : 2 parts) :: Volume of
full strength : Total Desire volume
1 : 2 :: X : 320 ml
2X = 320, and X = 160 ml of Osmolite enteral formula, full strength
320 ml total volume - 160 ml of full-strength formula = 160 ml of water to create
1/2 strength or 50% concentration
A client who weighs 70 pounds receives a prescription for phenytoin (Dilantin)
PO. The practical nurse (PN) refers to the published drug literature which
recommends the dose of 10 mg/kg/day. How many mg should the PN determine is
the recommended dose for this client? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest whole number.)
318
2.2 pounds = 1 kg, so 70 pounds = 31.8181 kg31.8181 x 10 mg/1 kg/day =
318.181 or 318 mg/day
pg. 3
, A client with dehydration receives a prescription for an IV of lactated Ringer's
1,000 ml to be administered over 8 hours. The practical nurse should program the
infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only.)
125
Use the ratio of:
1000 ml : 8 hours :: X : 1 hour
1000/X :: 8/1
X = 125 ml/hour
A client with hypernatremia is to receive an IV infusion of 1000 ml 5% dextrose
in water to be infused over 6 hours. The practical nurse should program the
infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If
rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)
167
Calculate using the ratio:
1000 ml : 6 hours :: X ml : 1 hour
1000/X :: 6/1
6X = 1000
X = 167 ml/hour
A client receives a prescription for nafcillin 0.75 gams IV. The dispensed
medication is labeled in mg. How many mg should the practical nurse administer?
(Enter numerical value only.)
750
1 mg = 0.001 gram0.75 g x 1 mg/0.001 g = 750 mg
A client is receiving dantrolene sodium (Dantrium) PO for malignant
hyperthermia. The maximum safe dose is 8 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses. The
client currently weighs 48.5kg. What is the maximum safe dose the practical nurse
should calculate? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest whole number.)
97
Determine the maximum number of mg this client should receive in a day:
48.5kg x 8mg/kg/day = 388mg/day
pg. 4
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
& ALL WORKOUT/FORMULAS SHOWN/ HESI EXAM
DOSAGE CALCULATION PROBLEMS PRACTICE/
HESI MED CALC QUESTIONS ANSWERS (NEW!!)
A client with pericardial effusion has phrenic nerve compression resulting in
recurrent hiccups. The healthcare provider prescribes metoclopramide (Reglan)
liquid 10 mg PO q6 hours. Reglan is available as 5 mg/5 ml. A measuring device
marked in teaspoons is being used. How many teaspoons should the practical
nurse administer?
2
First, using the formula, Desired dose/dose on Hand x Quantity of volume on
hand (D/H x Q),
10 mg / 5 mg x 5ml = 10 ml
Next using the known conversion of 5 ml = 1 tsp:
5 ml : 1 tsp :: 10 ml : X
: 1 / X
5X = 10
X=2
A client who has a sinus infection is receiving a prescription for
amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium (Augmentin) 500 mg PO q8 hours. The
available form is 250 mg amoxicillin/125mg clavulanate tablets. How many
tablets should the practical nurse administer for each dose? (Enter numeric value
only.)
2
Using the known equivalent, 1 gram = 1000 mg, the nurse should first convert the
dose to the same unit of measurement, which is 1 gram = 1000 mg.
Using the formula, Desired / Available x 1 tablets:
1000 mg / 500 mg x 1 = 2 tablets
pg. 1
,A client with type 2 diabetes is receiving metformin (Glucophage) 1 gram PO
twice daily. The medication is available in 500 mg tablets. How many tablets
should the practical nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.)
2
Using the known equivalent, 1 gram = 1000 mg, the nurse should first convert the
dose to the same unit of measurement, which is 1 gram = 1000 mg.
Using the formula, Desired / Available x 1 tablets:
1000 mg / 500 mg x 1 = 2 tablets
A client who had a small bowel resection two weeks ago is receiving 3/4 strength
Ensure feedings 275 ml q4 hours via nasogastric tube. Full strength Ensure is
available in a 240 ml can. The practical nurse (PN) should use how many ml of
Ensure to prepare the feeding? (Enter numeric value only. Round to nearest whole
number if needed.)
206
Using the formula Desired % / on Hand % x Volume Desired =
75/100 x 275 = .75 x 275 = 206 Ensure
206 ml Ensure + 69ml water = 275 ml (75% solution)
The healthcare provider prescribes an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride with
40 mEq KCl/500 ml to infuse over 3 hours for a client with hypokalemia. The
practical nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole
number.)
167
To determine ml/hour:
500 ml : 3 hours :: as X ml : 1 hour
500/X :: 3/1
500 = 3X
X = 166.66 (rounds to)= 167 ml/hour
A child weighing 28.4 kg is hypertensive. The healthcare provider prescibes
methyldopa (Aldomet) 40 mg/kg/day IV in 4 divided doses. The pharmacy
provides a 50 mg/ml injection vial. How many ml should the practical nurse
pg. 2
,administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest tenth.)
5.7
First calculate the total mg dose/day:
40 mg x 28.4 kg = 1136 mg/day
Next divide the total mg into the 4 dosages for the day:
1136 mg/4 doses = 284 mg/dose
Using the Desired/Have formula:
284mg/50mg x 1 ml = 5.68 ml/ dose or 5.7 ml.
A client with a gastrostomy tube (GT) receives a prescription for Osmolite 1/2
strength enteral formula at 80 ml/hour. To prepare a 4 hour solution, the PN
should dilute the full-strength formula with how many ml of water? (Enter
numeric value only.)
160
Determine the total volume needed at 80 ml/hour x 4 hours = 320 ml. Use the
formula, Desired strength/strength on Hand x Volume = 50/100 x 320 = 160 ml of
Osmolite enteral formula, which must be diluted to half strength.
Or use ratio and proportion, Desired strength (1/2 = 1 part : 2 parts) :: Volume of
full strength : Total Desire volume
1 : 2 :: X : 320 ml
2X = 320, and X = 160 ml of Osmolite enteral formula, full strength
320 ml total volume - 160 ml of full-strength formula = 160 ml of water to create
1/2 strength or 50% concentration
A client who weighs 70 pounds receives a prescription for phenytoin (Dilantin)
PO. The practical nurse (PN) refers to the published drug literature which
recommends the dose of 10 mg/kg/day. How many mg should the PN determine is
the recommended dose for this client? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest whole number.)
318
2.2 pounds = 1 kg, so 70 pounds = 31.8181 kg31.8181 x 10 mg/1 kg/day =
318.181 or 318 mg/day
pg. 3
, A client with dehydration receives a prescription for an IV of lactated Ringer's
1,000 ml to be administered over 8 hours. The practical nurse should program the
infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only.)
125
Use the ratio of:
1000 ml : 8 hours :: X : 1 hour
1000/X :: 8/1
X = 125 ml/hour
A client with hypernatremia is to receive an IV infusion of 1000 ml 5% dextrose
in water to be infused over 6 hours. The practical nurse should program the
infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If
rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)
167
Calculate using the ratio:
1000 ml : 6 hours :: X ml : 1 hour
1000/X :: 6/1
6X = 1000
X = 167 ml/hour
A client receives a prescription for nafcillin 0.75 gams IV. The dispensed
medication is labeled in mg. How many mg should the practical nurse administer?
(Enter numerical value only.)
750
1 mg = 0.001 gram0.75 g x 1 mg/0.001 g = 750 mg
A client is receiving dantrolene sodium (Dantrium) PO for malignant
hyperthermia. The maximum safe dose is 8 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses. The
client currently weighs 48.5kg. What is the maximum safe dose the practical nurse
should calculate? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest whole number.)
97
Determine the maximum number of mg this client should receive in a day:
48.5kg x 8mg/kg/day = 388mg/day
pg. 4
