Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN®
Examination
9th Edition
• Author(s)Linda Anne Silvestri; Angela Silvestri
TEST BANK
Questions 1–7: Dosage by weight (mg/kg)
1) Ampicillin — oral/IV volume (mg → mL)
Order: Ampicillin 50 mg/kg IV q6h for a child weighing 12 kg.
Available: Ampicillin reconstituted or labeled 250 mg / 5 mL.
Question: How many mL per dose should the nurse administer?
Solution (dimensional analysis):
Required dose = 50 mg/kg × 12 kg = 600 mg.
Concentration = 250 mg per 5 mL ⇒ 250 mg : 5 mL.
Volume needed = 600 mg × (5 mL / 250 mg) = 600 × 0.02 = 12
mL.
Safety checks / rounding: 12 mL is a whole-mL volume —
confirm formulation (IV vs IM vs PO) and compatibility with
prescribed route. Verify allergies and double-check weight
source (kg). Final answer: 12 mL.
,Rationale: Correct conversion used mg → mL via factor label
method. Common incorrect answers: 2.4 mL (mistakenly
dividing by 250 mg/mL instead of using 5 mL denominator), 6
mL (using 100 mg per mL incorrectly). Always set up units to
cancel (mg → mg → mL).
2) Morphine — mg → mL
Order: Morphine 0.1 mg/kg IV bolus for an adult weighing 70
kg.
Available: Morphine solution 2 mg/mL.
Question: How many mL should be administered?
Solution:
Dose = 0.1 mg/kg × 70 kg = 7 mg.
Volume = 7 mg × (1 mL / 2 mg) = = 3.5 mL.
Safety checks / rounding: Use 3.5 mL if syringe allows; confirm
prescribed route and pre-med checks (respiratory rate, sedation
score). Final answer: 3.5 mL.
Rationale: Common error is moving decimal wrongly to get 0.35
mL — always confirm mg and mg/mL units before dividing.
3) Gentamicin — neonate mg/kg → mL
Order: Gentamicin 2.5 mg/kg IV for a neonate 3.2 kg.
Available: Gentamicin 20 mg/mL.
Question: How many mL to draw?
,Solution:
Dose = 2.5 mg/kg × 3.2 kg = 8.0 mg.
Volume = 8 mg × (1 mL / 20 mg) = = 0.4 mL.
Safety checks / rounding: Small neonatal volume — use an
appropriate syringe (tuberculin) and round to nearest 0.01–0.05
mL per facility policy; double-check site and concentration. Final
answer (practical): 0.4 mL.
Rationale: Common mistakes: giving 4 mL (off by factor 10) or
misreading kg as lb. Always confirm weight units.
4) Acetaminophen suspension — pediatric (mg/kg → mL)
Order: Acetaminophen 15 mg/kg PO for a child 18 kg.
Available: Suspension 160 mg / 5 mL.
Question: How many mL should be given?
Solution:
Dose = 15 × 18 = 270 mg.
Volume = 270 mg × (5 mL / 160 mg) = 270 × 0.03125 = 8.4375
mL.
Rounding: for oral syringe, round to 8.4 mL (to nearest 0.1 mL)
or per facility policy 8.5 mL if rounding to 0.5 mL increments.
Safety checks / rounding: Ensure caregiver is taught to use an
oral syringe; check that dose is within safe dose range for age.
Final answer: 8.4 mL (rounded to 0.1 mL).
, Rationale: Common wrong answers: 2.7 mL (mistaking mg for
mL) or 13.5 mL (using 100 mg per 1 mL). Use dimensional
analysis.
5) Heparin bolus — units/kg to mL
Order: Heparin bolus 100 units/kg IV for a patient 80 kg.
Available: Heparin 10,000 units / 10 mL (i.e., 1,000 units/mL).
Question: How many mL to draw?
Solution:
Dose = 100 × 80 = 8,000 units.
Concentration = 10,000 units / 10 mL = 1,000 units/mL.
Volume = 8,000 units × (1 mL / 1,000 units) = 8 mL.
Safety checks: Heparin dosing requires double-check with
another nurse per policy. Confirm units vs mg. Final answer: 8
mL.
Rationale: Common errors: mixing units (mg vs units) or
forgetting to convert vial concentration to units/mL.
6) Epinephrine IM — mg/kg → mL
Order: Epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IM for anaphylaxis for a child
weighing 25 kg.
Available: Epinephrine 1 mg/mL (1:1,000).
Question: How many mL should be given?
Examination
9th Edition
• Author(s)Linda Anne Silvestri; Angela Silvestri
TEST BANK
Questions 1–7: Dosage by weight (mg/kg)
1) Ampicillin — oral/IV volume (mg → mL)
Order: Ampicillin 50 mg/kg IV q6h for a child weighing 12 kg.
Available: Ampicillin reconstituted or labeled 250 mg / 5 mL.
Question: How many mL per dose should the nurse administer?
Solution (dimensional analysis):
Required dose = 50 mg/kg × 12 kg = 600 mg.
Concentration = 250 mg per 5 mL ⇒ 250 mg : 5 mL.
Volume needed = 600 mg × (5 mL / 250 mg) = 600 × 0.02 = 12
mL.
Safety checks / rounding: 12 mL is a whole-mL volume —
confirm formulation (IV vs IM vs PO) and compatibility with
prescribed route. Verify allergies and double-check weight
source (kg). Final answer: 12 mL.
,Rationale: Correct conversion used mg → mL via factor label
method. Common incorrect answers: 2.4 mL (mistakenly
dividing by 250 mg/mL instead of using 5 mL denominator), 6
mL (using 100 mg per mL incorrectly). Always set up units to
cancel (mg → mg → mL).
2) Morphine — mg → mL
Order: Morphine 0.1 mg/kg IV bolus for an adult weighing 70
kg.
Available: Morphine solution 2 mg/mL.
Question: How many mL should be administered?
Solution:
Dose = 0.1 mg/kg × 70 kg = 7 mg.
Volume = 7 mg × (1 mL / 2 mg) = = 3.5 mL.
Safety checks / rounding: Use 3.5 mL if syringe allows; confirm
prescribed route and pre-med checks (respiratory rate, sedation
score). Final answer: 3.5 mL.
Rationale: Common error is moving decimal wrongly to get 0.35
mL — always confirm mg and mg/mL units before dividing.
3) Gentamicin — neonate mg/kg → mL
Order: Gentamicin 2.5 mg/kg IV for a neonate 3.2 kg.
Available: Gentamicin 20 mg/mL.
Question: How many mL to draw?
,Solution:
Dose = 2.5 mg/kg × 3.2 kg = 8.0 mg.
Volume = 8 mg × (1 mL / 20 mg) = = 0.4 mL.
Safety checks / rounding: Small neonatal volume — use an
appropriate syringe (tuberculin) and round to nearest 0.01–0.05
mL per facility policy; double-check site and concentration. Final
answer (practical): 0.4 mL.
Rationale: Common mistakes: giving 4 mL (off by factor 10) or
misreading kg as lb. Always confirm weight units.
4) Acetaminophen suspension — pediatric (mg/kg → mL)
Order: Acetaminophen 15 mg/kg PO for a child 18 kg.
Available: Suspension 160 mg / 5 mL.
Question: How many mL should be given?
Solution:
Dose = 15 × 18 = 270 mg.
Volume = 270 mg × (5 mL / 160 mg) = 270 × 0.03125 = 8.4375
mL.
Rounding: for oral syringe, round to 8.4 mL (to nearest 0.1 mL)
or per facility policy 8.5 mL if rounding to 0.5 mL increments.
Safety checks / rounding: Ensure caregiver is taught to use an
oral syringe; check that dose is within safe dose range for age.
Final answer: 8.4 mL (rounded to 0.1 mL).
, Rationale: Common wrong answers: 2.7 mL (mistaking mg for
mL) or 13.5 mL (using 100 mg per 1 mL). Use dimensional
analysis.
5) Heparin bolus — units/kg to mL
Order: Heparin bolus 100 units/kg IV for a patient 80 kg.
Available: Heparin 10,000 units / 10 mL (i.e., 1,000 units/mL).
Question: How many mL to draw?
Solution:
Dose = 100 × 80 = 8,000 units.
Concentration = 10,000 units / 10 mL = 1,000 units/mL.
Volume = 8,000 units × (1 mL / 1,000 units) = 8 mL.
Safety checks: Heparin dosing requires double-check with
another nurse per policy. Confirm units vs mg. Final answer: 8
mL.
Rationale: Common errors: mixing units (mg vs units) or
forgetting to convert vial concentration to units/mL.
6) Epinephrine IM — mg/kg → mL
Order: Epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IM for anaphylaxis for a child
weighing 25 kg.
Available: Epinephrine 1 mg/mL (1:1,000).
Question: How many mL should be given?
