ATI Dosage Calculation RN Fundamentals
Proctored Assessment 3.2 – Questions and
Answers 2026
Q001:
Problem Type: Metric Conversion
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is preparing to administer levothyroxine to a patient with
hypothyroidism per provider order.
Given: Order: levothyroxine 150 mcg PO daily. Available: levothyroxine 0.1 mg tablets.
Question: How many tablets will the nurse administer per dose? (Round to nearest
whole tablet)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 2 tablets)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Convert mg to mcg (1 mg = 1,000 mcg), then calculate tablets needed
using proportion: Desired dose / Available dose per tablet = Tablets
● Calculation: 0.1 mg = 100 mcg. 150 mcg / 100 mcg per tablet = 1.5 tablets.
Round to 2 tablets.
● Safety Check: Do not split unscored tablets; rounding up ensures therapeutic
dose is achieved. Verify order matches patient weight and current TSH levels.
Q002:
Problem Type: Liquid Oral Medication
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is administering liquid acetaminophen to a pediatric patient
with fever per provider order.
Given: Order: acetaminophen 480 mg PO q6h PRN for fever (Temperature > 101°F).
Available: acetaminophen liquid 160 mg per 5 mL.
Question: How many mL will the nurse administer per dose? (Round to nearest tenth
mL)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 15.0 mL)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Use ratio-proportion: (Desired dose / Available concentration) × Volume =
mL to administer
, ● Calculation: (480 mg / 160 mg) × 5 mL = 3 × 5 mL = 15.0 mL
● Safety Check: Verify dose does not exceed maximum daily limit (4,000 mg for
adults, lower for pediatrics based on weight). Check liver function and other
hepatotoxic medications.
Q003:
Problem Type: Intramuscular Injection
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is preparing to administer vitamin B12 injection to a patient
with pernicious anemia per provider order.
Given: Order: cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) 1,000 mcg IM daily for 7 days. Available:
cyanocobalamin 1,000 mcg per mL single-dose vial.
Question: How many mL will the nurse administer per injection? (Round to nearest tenth
mL)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 1.0 mL)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Direct conversion from mcg to mL using available concentration: Desired
dose ÷ Concentration = Volume
● Calculation: 1,000 mcg ÷ 1,000 mcg/mL = 1.0 mL
● Safety Check: Use appropriate IM needle length (1-1.5 inches) based on patient
body mass. Rotate injection sites. Maximum volume for deltoid is 1 mL; if patient
is small, consider ventrogluteal site for up to 3 mL.
Q004:
Problem Type: IV Drip Rate (mL/hr)
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is setting up maintenance IV fluids for a dehydrated adult
patient per provider order.
Given: Order: Lactated Ringer's 1,000 mL IV to infuse over 8 hours. IV pump is available.
Question: At what rate will the nurse set the IV pump in mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole
number)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 125 mL/hr)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Calculate mL per hour: Total volume ÷ Total hours = mL/hr
● Calculation: 1,000 mL ÷ 8 hours = 125 mL/hr
● Safety Check: Verify patient has no fluid restrictions or contraindications to LR
(e.g., hyperkalemia, renal impairment). Assess lung sounds and for signs of fluid
overload hourly.
, Q005:
Problem Type: Weight-Based Calculation
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is administering oral cephalexin to a pediatric patient for skin
infection per provider order.
Given: Order: cephalexin 50 mg/kg/day PO divided q8h. Patient weight: 44 lb. Available:
cephalexin suspension 250 mg per 5 mL.
Question: How many mL will the nurse administer per dose? (Round to nearest tenth
mL)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 3.3 mL)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Convert pounds to kg, calculate total daily dose, divide by number of
doses, then calculate volume per dose
● Calculation: 44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. Total daily dose = 50 mg/kg × 20 kg = 1,000
mg/day. Divided q8h = 1,000 mg ÷ 3 doses = 333.3 mg/dose. (333.3 mg / 250
mg) × 5 mL = 6.666 mL. Round to 6.7 mL per dose.
● Safety Check: Verify pediatric dose does not exceed maximum recommended
dose. Check for penicillin/cephalosporin allergy. Shake suspension well before
administration.
Q006:
Problem Type: Subcutaneous Injection
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is preparing to administer enoxaparin to a post-operative
patient for DVT prophylaxis per provider order.
Given: Order: enoxaparin 40 mg SubQ q24h. Available: enoxaparin 80 mg per 0.8 mL
prefilled syringe.
Question: How many mL will the nurse administer? (Round to nearest hundredth mL)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 0.40 mL)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Calculate volume: Desired dose ÷ Available concentration = Volume
● Calculation: 40 mg ÷ 80 mg × 0.8 mL = 0.5 × 0.8 mL = 0.40 mL
● Safety Check: Do not expel air bubble from prefilled syringe. Administer deep
SubQ injection in abdomen at least 2 inches from umbilicus. Do not aspirate or
massage site. Verify renal function and patient weight for appropriate dosing.
Q007:
Problem Type: Reconstitution
Proctored Assessment 3.2 – Questions and
Answers 2026
Q001:
Problem Type: Metric Conversion
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is preparing to administer levothyroxine to a patient with
hypothyroidism per provider order.
Given: Order: levothyroxine 150 mcg PO daily. Available: levothyroxine 0.1 mg tablets.
Question: How many tablets will the nurse administer per dose? (Round to nearest
whole tablet)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 2 tablets)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Convert mg to mcg (1 mg = 1,000 mcg), then calculate tablets needed
using proportion: Desired dose / Available dose per tablet = Tablets
● Calculation: 0.1 mg = 100 mcg. 150 mcg / 100 mcg per tablet = 1.5 tablets.
Round to 2 tablets.
● Safety Check: Do not split unscored tablets; rounding up ensures therapeutic
dose is achieved. Verify order matches patient weight and current TSH levels.
Q002:
Problem Type: Liquid Oral Medication
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is administering liquid acetaminophen to a pediatric patient
with fever per provider order.
Given: Order: acetaminophen 480 mg PO q6h PRN for fever (Temperature > 101°F).
Available: acetaminophen liquid 160 mg per 5 mL.
Question: How many mL will the nurse administer per dose? (Round to nearest tenth
mL)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 15.0 mL)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Use ratio-proportion: (Desired dose / Available concentration) × Volume =
mL to administer
, ● Calculation: (480 mg / 160 mg) × 5 mL = 3 × 5 mL = 15.0 mL
● Safety Check: Verify dose does not exceed maximum daily limit (4,000 mg for
adults, lower for pediatrics based on weight). Check liver function and other
hepatotoxic medications.
Q003:
Problem Type: Intramuscular Injection
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is preparing to administer vitamin B12 injection to a patient
with pernicious anemia per provider order.
Given: Order: cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) 1,000 mcg IM daily for 7 days. Available:
cyanocobalamin 1,000 mcg per mL single-dose vial.
Question: How many mL will the nurse administer per injection? (Round to nearest tenth
mL)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 1.0 mL)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Direct conversion from mcg to mL using available concentration: Desired
dose ÷ Concentration = Volume
● Calculation: 1,000 mcg ÷ 1,000 mcg/mL = 1.0 mL
● Safety Check: Use appropriate IM needle length (1-1.5 inches) based on patient
body mass. Rotate injection sites. Maximum volume for deltoid is 1 mL; if patient
is small, consider ventrogluteal site for up to 3 mL.
Q004:
Problem Type: IV Drip Rate (mL/hr)
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is setting up maintenance IV fluids for a dehydrated adult
patient per provider order.
Given: Order: Lactated Ringer's 1,000 mL IV to infuse over 8 hours. IV pump is available.
Question: At what rate will the nurse set the IV pump in mL/hr? (Round to nearest whole
number)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 125 mL/hr)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Calculate mL per hour: Total volume ÷ Total hours = mL/hr
● Calculation: 1,000 mL ÷ 8 hours = 125 mL/hr
● Safety Check: Verify patient has no fluid restrictions or contraindications to LR
(e.g., hyperkalemia, renal impairment). Assess lung sounds and for signs of fluid
overload hourly.
, Q005:
Problem Type: Weight-Based Calculation
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is administering oral cephalexin to a pediatric patient for skin
infection per provider order.
Given: Order: cephalexin 50 mg/kg/day PO divided q8h. Patient weight: 44 lb. Available:
cephalexin suspension 250 mg per 5 mL.
Question: How many mL will the nurse administer per dose? (Round to nearest tenth
mL)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 3.3 mL)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Convert pounds to kg, calculate total daily dose, divide by number of
doses, then calculate volume per dose
● Calculation: 44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. Total daily dose = 50 mg/kg × 20 kg = 1,000
mg/day. Divided q8h = 1,000 mg ÷ 3 doses = 333.3 mg/dose. (333.3 mg / 250
mg) × 5 mL = 6.666 mL. Round to 6.7 mL per dose.
● Safety Check: Verify pediatric dose does not exceed maximum recommended
dose. Check for penicillin/cephalosporin allergy. Shake suspension well before
administration.
Q006:
Problem Type: Subcutaneous Injection
Clinical Scenario: Nurse is preparing to administer enoxaparin to a post-operative
patient for DVT prophylaxis per provider order.
Given: Order: enoxaparin 40 mg SubQ q24h. Available: enoxaparin 80 mg per 0.8 mL
prefilled syringe.
Question: How many mL will the nurse administer? (Round to nearest hundredth mL)
(Correct Numeric Answer: 0.40 mL)
Work & Rationale:
● Setup: Calculate volume: Desired dose ÷ Available concentration = Volume
● Calculation: 40 mg ÷ 80 mg × 0.8 mL = 0.5 × 0.8 mL = 0.40 mL
● Safety Check: Do not expel air bubble from prefilled syringe. Administer deep
SubQ injection in abdomen at least 2 inches from umbilicus. Do not aspirate or
massage site. Verify renal function and patient weight for appropriate dosing.
Q007:
Problem Type: Reconstitution
