NR 442 Community Health Nursing
Medication Calculation Exam
Questions and Correct Answers
Question: The healthcare provider ordered acetaminophen 15 mg/kg. The client weighs 77 lbs.
How many mg will the nurse administer? (If needed, round to the nearest tenth.)
Solution:
Step 1: Convert weight to kilograms.77 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 35 kg.
Step 2: Calculate the dose.15 mg/kg × 35 kg = 525 mg.
Answer: 525 mg
Question: The client has an order for amiodarone to infuse at 1 mg/min IV. Available is
amiodarone 300 mg/150 mL in dextrose 5%. At what rate will the nurse infuse the medication?
(If needed, round to the nearest whole number.)
Solution:
Step 1: Calculate the concentration.300 mg/150 mL = 2 mg/mL.
Step 2: Calculate the infusion rate in mL/min.1 mg/min ÷ 2 mg/mL = 0.5 mL/min.
Step 3: Convert to mL/h.0.5 mL/min × 60 min/h = 30 mL/h.
Answer: 30 mL/h
Question: The healthcare provider ordered cefotaxime 150 mg/kg/day IV divided into 3 doses.
The client weighs 33 lbs. How many mg will the nurse administer for each dose? (If needed,
round to the nearest whole number.)
Solution:
,Step 1: Convert weight to kilograms.33 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 15 kg.
Step 2: Calculate the daily dose.150 mg/kg/day × 15 kg = 2250 mg/day.
Step 3: Divide into 3 doses.2250 mg/day ÷ 3 doses = 750 mg/dose.
Answer: 750 mg
Question: The client has an order for cephalexin 300 mg orally. The medication available is
cephalexin 500 mg/5 mL. How many mL will the nurse administer? (If needed, round to the
nearest tenth.)
Solution:
Step 1: Calculate the concentration.500 mg/5 mL = 100 mg/mL.
Step 2: Calculate the volume for 300 mg.300 mg ÷ 100 mg/mL = 3 mL.
Answer: 3 mL
Question: The healthcare provider ordered diphenhydramine 10 mg IM. The medication
available is diphenhydramine 50 mg/mL. How many mL will the nurse administer? (If needed,
round to the nearest tenth.)
Solution:
Step 1: Calculate the volume for 10 mg.10 mg ÷ 50 mg/mL = 0.2 mL.
Answer: 0.2 mL
Question: The healthcare provider ordered dopamine 4 mcg/kg/min. The client weighs 155 lbs.
The pharmacy delivered dopamine 400 mg/250 mL in 0.45% sodium chloride. At what rate will
the nurse set the infusion? (If needed, round to the nearest tenth.)
Solution:
, Step 1: Convert weight to kilograms.155 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 70.4545 kg.
Step 2: Calculate the dose in mcg/min.4 mcg/kg/min × 70.4545 kg = 281.818 mcg/min.
Step 3: Calculate the concentration.400 mg = 400,000 mcg.400,000 mcg/250 mL = 1600
mcg/mL.
Step 4: Calculate the infusion rate in mL/min.281.818 mcg/min ÷ 1600 mcg/mL = 0.1761
mL/min.
Step 5: Convert to mL/h.0.1761 mL/min × 60 min/h = 10.566 mL/h.
Step 6: Round to the nearest tenth.10.566 mL/h ≈ 10.6 mL/h.
Answer: 10.6 mL/h
Question: The healthcare provider ordered enoxaparin 1 mg/kg subcutaneously. The client
weighs 99 lbs. The pharmacy delivers enoxaparin 40 mg/0.4 mL. How many mL will the nurse
administer? (If needed, round to the nearest tenth.)
Solution:
Step 1: Convert weight to kilograms.99 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 45 kg.
Step 2: Calculate the dose in mg.1 mg/kg × 45 kg = 45 mg.
Step 3: Calculate the concentration.40 mg/0.4 mL = 100 mg/mL.
Step 4: Calculate the volume.45 mg ÷ 100 mg/mL = 0.45 mL.
Step 5: Round to the nearest tenth.0.45 mL ≈ 0.5 mL.
Answer: 0.5 mL
Question: The healthcare provider ordered filgrastim 5 mcg/kg/day IV. The medication available
is filgrastim 300 mcg/1 mL. The client weighs 187 lbs. How many mL will the nurse administer?
(If needed, round to the nearest tenth.)
Solution:
Medication Calculation Exam
Questions and Correct Answers
Question: The healthcare provider ordered acetaminophen 15 mg/kg. The client weighs 77 lbs.
How many mg will the nurse administer? (If needed, round to the nearest tenth.)
Solution:
Step 1: Convert weight to kilograms.77 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 35 kg.
Step 2: Calculate the dose.15 mg/kg × 35 kg = 525 mg.
Answer: 525 mg
Question: The client has an order for amiodarone to infuse at 1 mg/min IV. Available is
amiodarone 300 mg/150 mL in dextrose 5%. At what rate will the nurse infuse the medication?
(If needed, round to the nearest whole number.)
Solution:
Step 1: Calculate the concentration.300 mg/150 mL = 2 mg/mL.
Step 2: Calculate the infusion rate in mL/min.1 mg/min ÷ 2 mg/mL = 0.5 mL/min.
Step 3: Convert to mL/h.0.5 mL/min × 60 min/h = 30 mL/h.
Answer: 30 mL/h
Question: The healthcare provider ordered cefotaxime 150 mg/kg/day IV divided into 3 doses.
The client weighs 33 lbs. How many mg will the nurse administer for each dose? (If needed,
round to the nearest whole number.)
Solution:
,Step 1: Convert weight to kilograms.33 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 15 kg.
Step 2: Calculate the daily dose.150 mg/kg/day × 15 kg = 2250 mg/day.
Step 3: Divide into 3 doses.2250 mg/day ÷ 3 doses = 750 mg/dose.
Answer: 750 mg
Question: The client has an order for cephalexin 300 mg orally. The medication available is
cephalexin 500 mg/5 mL. How many mL will the nurse administer? (If needed, round to the
nearest tenth.)
Solution:
Step 1: Calculate the concentration.500 mg/5 mL = 100 mg/mL.
Step 2: Calculate the volume for 300 mg.300 mg ÷ 100 mg/mL = 3 mL.
Answer: 3 mL
Question: The healthcare provider ordered diphenhydramine 10 mg IM. The medication
available is diphenhydramine 50 mg/mL. How many mL will the nurse administer? (If needed,
round to the nearest tenth.)
Solution:
Step 1: Calculate the volume for 10 mg.10 mg ÷ 50 mg/mL = 0.2 mL.
Answer: 0.2 mL
Question: The healthcare provider ordered dopamine 4 mcg/kg/min. The client weighs 155 lbs.
The pharmacy delivered dopamine 400 mg/250 mL in 0.45% sodium chloride. At what rate will
the nurse set the infusion? (If needed, round to the nearest tenth.)
Solution:
, Step 1: Convert weight to kilograms.155 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 70.4545 kg.
Step 2: Calculate the dose in mcg/min.4 mcg/kg/min × 70.4545 kg = 281.818 mcg/min.
Step 3: Calculate the concentration.400 mg = 400,000 mcg.400,000 mcg/250 mL = 1600
mcg/mL.
Step 4: Calculate the infusion rate in mL/min.281.818 mcg/min ÷ 1600 mcg/mL = 0.1761
mL/min.
Step 5: Convert to mL/h.0.1761 mL/min × 60 min/h = 10.566 mL/h.
Step 6: Round to the nearest tenth.10.566 mL/h ≈ 10.6 mL/h.
Answer: 10.6 mL/h
Question: The healthcare provider ordered enoxaparin 1 mg/kg subcutaneously. The client
weighs 99 lbs. The pharmacy delivers enoxaparin 40 mg/0.4 mL. How many mL will the nurse
administer? (If needed, round to the nearest tenth.)
Solution:
Step 1: Convert weight to kilograms.99 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds/kg = 45 kg.
Step 2: Calculate the dose in mg.1 mg/kg × 45 kg = 45 mg.
Step 3: Calculate the concentration.40 mg/0.4 mL = 100 mg/mL.
Step 4: Calculate the volume.45 mg ÷ 100 mg/mL = 0.45 mL.
Step 5: Round to the nearest tenth.0.45 mL ≈ 0.5 mL.
Answer: 0.5 mL
Question: The healthcare provider ordered filgrastim 5 mcg/kg/day IV. The medication available
is filgrastim 300 mcg/1 mL. The client weighs 187 lbs. How many mL will the nurse administer?
(If needed, round to the nearest tenth.)
Solution:
