BSN 215 HESI RN Specialty Dosage
Calculation | Nightingale
1. A healthcare provider orders 500 mg of Amoxicillin oral suspension every 8 hours. The
pharmacy provides the medication in a concentration of 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters
(mL) should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 5 mL
B. 15 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 20 mL
Answer: C
Rationale: To calculate the correct volume, first identify the desired dose of 500 mg and
the strength on hand of 250 mg per 5 mL. Use the formula (Desired divided by Have)
multiplied by Quantity, which results in (500/250) times 5. The final calculation yields 10
mL per dose for the patient.
2. The nurse is preparing to administer 0.9% Normal Saline 1,000 mL over 8 hours. What is the
hourly rate the nurse should set on the infusion pump?
A. 80 mL/hr
B. 100 mL/hr
,C. 150 mL/hr
D. 125 mL/hr
Answer: D
Rationale: Determine the total volume of fluid to be infused, which is 1,000 mL. Divide this
total volume by the total number of hours, which is 8, to find the rate per hour. The
resulting value of 125 mL per hour is the correct setting for the IV pump.
3. A patient weighs 154 pounds. The nurse needs to convert this weight to kilograms to
calculate a weight-based dosage. What is the patient’s weight in kilograms (kg)?
A. 68 kg
B. 77 kg
C. 70 kg
D. 80 kg
Answer: C
Rationale: The standard conversion factor for weight is that 1 kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.
Divide the patient’s weight of 154 pounds by 2.2 to find the weight in kilograms. The result
is exactly 70 kg, which is used for subsequent medical calculations.
4. An IV of D5W 500 mL is ordered to infuse over 4 hours using a drip factor of 20 gtt/mL.
What should the nurse calculate as the flow rate in drops per minute (gtt/min)?
A. 42 gtt/min
, B. 32 gtt/min
C. 52 gtt/min
D. 62 gtt/min
Answer: A
Rationale: Calculate the total minutes by multiplying the 4 hours by 60 minutes. Use the
formula (Total Volume in mL times Drop Factor) divided by Total Minutes, which is (500
times 20) divided by 240. Rounding 41.66 to the nearest whole number gives a flow rate of
42 drops per minute.
5. The physician orders 0.25 mg of Digoxin PO daily. The available tablets are labeled 125 mcg
per tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 3 tablets
D. 2 tablets
Answer: D
Rationale: First, convert the ordered dose of 0.25 mg into micrograms by multiplying by
1,000, resulting in 250 mcg. Next, divide the converted dose of 250 mcg by the available
strength of 125 mcg per tablet. The calculation confirms that the nurse should provide 2
tablets to meet the order.