HESI Dosage Calculations Practice
Exam, Hesi Pharmacology Review
A client with cardiogenic shock weighs 220 lb and is receiving dopamine at the
rate of 3 mcg/kg/minute. The solution strength available is dopamine 400 mg
in 250 ml of D5W. The nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver how
many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest tenth.) - correct answer-11.3
First, convert pounds to kg, 220 lb : X = 2.2 lb : 1 kg = 100 kg. Next, calculate
the dosage per minute, 3 mcg/kg/min x 100 kg = 300 mcg/min. Convert
mcg/min to mcg/hour, 300 mcg/min x 60 min=18,000 mcg/hour. Convert
mcg/hr to mg/hour, 18,000 mcg/hr = 18.0 mg/hour. Calculate the rate, 400 mg
: 250 ml = 18 mg : X ml 400X = 4500 X = 11.25 = 11.3 ml. So, 18 mg/11.3 ml
should be infused at 11.3 ml/hour.
A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of
nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in D5W 250 ml at 75 ml/hour. How many
mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.) - correct answer-3.5
Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml 250X = 3750 and X
= 15 mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr to mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg / 1000
mcg = 15,000 mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly, 250
mcg/72.4 kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.
A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of 800 mg/500 ml
normal saline at 5 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.) -
correct answer-1.9
To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula: desired rate (5 ml/hour)
/ volume available (500 ml) x dose available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour. Next,
convert milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) / 60 minutes
= 1.904 = 1.9 mcg/kg/minute.
A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline)
250 ml with amiodarone (Cordarone) 1 gram at 17 ml/hour. How many
,mg/minute of amiodarone is infusing? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.) - correct answer-Convert grams to mg, 1
gram equals 1,000 mg. Using ratio and proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml :: X mg
: 1ml 250X= 1,000 so X = 4 mg/ml is the solution concentration of
amiodarone. The infusion rate (ml/hour) x concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60
minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x 4 mg/ml = 68/60 = 1.13 = 1.1 mg/minute.
A client who weighs 176 pounds is receiving an IV infusion with esmolol
hydrochloride (Brevibloc) at 48 ml/hour. The IV solution is labeled with the
concentration of Brevibloc 10 mg/ml. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client
receiving? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-100
Convert pounds to kg by dividing 176 pounds by 2.2 pounds = 80 kg. Convert
the IV concentration from mg to mcg. 1 mg : 1000 mcg :: 10 mg : 10,000 mcg.
Infusion rate (48 ml/hour) x concentration (10,000 mcg/ml) divided by 60
minutes/hour x 80 kg = 48 x 10,000 divided by 60 x 80 = 480, = 100
mcg/kg/minute.
The nurse is preparing the change-of-shift report for a client who has a 265 ml
secondary infusion that was started 2 hours ago at a rate of 85 ml/hour via an
infusion pump. The nurse should report that how many ml remain to be
infused by the on-coming nurse? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct
answer-95
85 ml x 2 hours = 170 ml has infused. 265 ml (total amount to be infused) -
170 ml (amount infused) = 95 ml remain to be infused.
A male client receives a prescription for ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran) 4
mg IV to prevent postoperative nausea after an inguinal hernia repair. The
medication is available in 2 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer?
(Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-2
Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X = 2
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant
(Energix-B) 5 mcg IM to a school-aged child. The vaccine is labeled, 10
mcg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value
only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth). - correct answer-1 or
0.5
,Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml
10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
A client's daily PO prescription for aripiprazole (Abilify) is increased from 15
mg to 30 mg. The medication is available in 15 mg tablets, and the client
already received one tablet today. How many additional tablets should the
nurse administer so the client receives the total newly prescribed dose for the
day? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-1
30 mg (total dose) - 15 mg (dose already administered) = 15 mg that still
needs to be administered. Using the Desired/Have formula: 15 mg/15 mg = 1
tablet
At the end of the shift, the nurse is recording the fluid balance for a client
receiving a continuous gastrostomy tube (GT) feeding. Based on the client's
records, how many ml should the nurse record for the total fluid balance
(intake - output) for the shift that started at 0700 and ended at 1900? (Enter
numeric value only.) (Click on each image asset for additional information.) -
correct answer-695
The tube feeding is administered at 75 ml/hour for 11 hours (0700 - 1800) and
then turned off for one hour because the residual is greater than 200 ml. 11
hours x 75 ml/hr = 825 ml. Three doses of 20 ml of medication are
administered, with 10 ml of water used to flush the GT before and after each
dose. 20 ml x 3 doses = 60 ml; 10 ml (flush) x 2 x 3 doses = 60 ml; so 825 ml
+ 60 ml + 60 ml = 945 ml. 250 ml of residual is removed and not replaced. 945
ml - 250 ml = 695 ml total fluid balance (Intake - output).
The nurse is administering a 250 milliliter (ml) intravenous solution to be
infused over 2 hours. How many ml/hour should the nurse program the
infusion pump? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-125
250 ml : 2 hours = X ml : 1 hour 250 = 2X X = 250 divided by 2 = 125 ml/hr
The nurse is preparing to administer 0.25 mg of bumetanide (Bumex) IV. The
medication is available in a vial labeled 1 mg/4 ml. How many ml of
medication should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct
answer-1
, Using the Desired/Have x Volume formula: Desired = 0.25 mg Have = 1 mg
Volume = 4 ml 0.25 mg/1 mg x 4 ml = 1 ml
A client with hypertension receives a prescription for carteolol (Cartel) 7.5 mg
PO daily. The drug is available in 2.5 mg tablets. How many tablets should the
nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-3
Using D/H: 7.5 mg / 2.5 mg = 3 tablets
The healthcare provider prescribes trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
(Bactrim-DS Oral Suspension) 120 mg BID for a child with bronchitis. The
Bactrim bottle is labeled 200 mg/5ml. How many ml should the nurse
administer at each dose? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-3
Using the formula D/H x Q, 120/200 x 5 = 3 ml
A 180-pound adult male is admitted to the Emergency Center after receiving
thermal burns to 60 percent of his body. Using the Parkland formula of 4
ml/kg/24 hours, the client should receive how many ml of fluid during the first
24 hours? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest whole number.) - correct answer-19632
Using the Parkland formula, the client's fluid requirements for the first 24 hours
after injury: 4 ml lactated Ringer's solution x Body weight (in kilograms) x
Percent burn. Convert 180 pounds to kg = .2 = 81.8 kg 4 ml x 81.8 kg x
60 = 19632 ml over the first 24 hours.
The healthcare provider prescribes acetazolamide (Diamox) 600 mg/m2/day
divided into 3 doses. The nurse calculates the child's body surface area (BSA)
as 0.7 m2. How many mg should the child receive per dose? (Enter numeric
value only.) - correct answer-140
Using the child's BSA, 0.7 m2, calculate the mg/dose, 600 mg x 0.7 m2 = 420
mg/day/3 doses = 140 mg/dose
A loading dose of acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) 8 grams, which is available as a
20% solution (200 mg acetylcysteine per ml) is prescribed by nasogastric tube
for a client with acetaminophen toxicity. How many ml of diluent should be
added to the medication to obtain a 1:4 concentration? (Enter numeric value
Exam, Hesi Pharmacology Review
A client with cardiogenic shock weighs 220 lb and is receiving dopamine at the
rate of 3 mcg/kg/minute. The solution strength available is dopamine 400 mg
in 250 ml of D5W. The nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver how
many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest tenth.) - correct answer-11.3
First, convert pounds to kg, 220 lb : X = 2.2 lb : 1 kg = 100 kg. Next, calculate
the dosage per minute, 3 mcg/kg/min x 100 kg = 300 mcg/min. Convert
mcg/min to mcg/hour, 300 mcg/min x 60 min=18,000 mcg/hour. Convert
mcg/hr to mg/hour, 18,000 mcg/hr = 18.0 mg/hour. Calculate the rate, 400 mg
: 250 ml = 18 mg : X ml 400X = 4500 X = 11.25 = 11.3 ml. So, 18 mg/11.3 ml
should be infused at 11.3 ml/hour.
A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of
nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in D5W 250 ml at 75 ml/hour. How many
mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.) - correct answer-3.5
Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml 250X = 3750 and X
= 15 mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr to mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg / 1000
mcg = 15,000 mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly, 250
mcg/72.4 kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.
A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of 800 mg/500 ml
normal saline at 5 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.) -
correct answer-1.9
To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula: desired rate (5 ml/hour)
/ volume available (500 ml) x dose available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour. Next,
convert milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) / 60 minutes
= 1.904 = 1.9 mcg/kg/minute.
A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline)
250 ml with amiodarone (Cordarone) 1 gram at 17 ml/hour. How many
,mg/minute of amiodarone is infusing? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.) - correct answer-Convert grams to mg, 1
gram equals 1,000 mg. Using ratio and proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml :: X mg
: 1ml 250X= 1,000 so X = 4 mg/ml is the solution concentration of
amiodarone. The infusion rate (ml/hour) x concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60
minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x 4 mg/ml = 68/60 = 1.13 = 1.1 mg/minute.
A client who weighs 176 pounds is receiving an IV infusion with esmolol
hydrochloride (Brevibloc) at 48 ml/hour. The IV solution is labeled with the
concentration of Brevibloc 10 mg/ml. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client
receiving? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-100
Convert pounds to kg by dividing 176 pounds by 2.2 pounds = 80 kg. Convert
the IV concentration from mg to mcg. 1 mg : 1000 mcg :: 10 mg : 10,000 mcg.
Infusion rate (48 ml/hour) x concentration (10,000 mcg/ml) divided by 60
minutes/hour x 80 kg = 48 x 10,000 divided by 60 x 80 = 480, = 100
mcg/kg/minute.
The nurse is preparing the change-of-shift report for a client who has a 265 ml
secondary infusion that was started 2 hours ago at a rate of 85 ml/hour via an
infusion pump. The nurse should report that how many ml remain to be
infused by the on-coming nurse? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct
answer-95
85 ml x 2 hours = 170 ml has infused. 265 ml (total amount to be infused) -
170 ml (amount infused) = 95 ml remain to be infused.
A male client receives a prescription for ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran) 4
mg IV to prevent postoperative nausea after an inguinal hernia repair. The
medication is available in 2 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer?
(Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-2
Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X = 2
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant
(Energix-B) 5 mcg IM to a school-aged child. The vaccine is labeled, 10
mcg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value
only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth). - correct answer-1 or
0.5
,Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml
10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
A client's daily PO prescription for aripiprazole (Abilify) is increased from 15
mg to 30 mg. The medication is available in 15 mg tablets, and the client
already received one tablet today. How many additional tablets should the
nurse administer so the client receives the total newly prescribed dose for the
day? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-1
30 mg (total dose) - 15 mg (dose already administered) = 15 mg that still
needs to be administered. Using the Desired/Have formula: 15 mg/15 mg = 1
tablet
At the end of the shift, the nurse is recording the fluid balance for a client
receiving a continuous gastrostomy tube (GT) feeding. Based on the client's
records, how many ml should the nurse record for the total fluid balance
(intake - output) for the shift that started at 0700 and ended at 1900? (Enter
numeric value only.) (Click on each image asset for additional information.) -
correct answer-695
The tube feeding is administered at 75 ml/hour for 11 hours (0700 - 1800) and
then turned off for one hour because the residual is greater than 200 ml. 11
hours x 75 ml/hr = 825 ml. Three doses of 20 ml of medication are
administered, with 10 ml of water used to flush the GT before and after each
dose. 20 ml x 3 doses = 60 ml; 10 ml (flush) x 2 x 3 doses = 60 ml; so 825 ml
+ 60 ml + 60 ml = 945 ml. 250 ml of residual is removed and not replaced. 945
ml - 250 ml = 695 ml total fluid balance (Intake - output).
The nurse is administering a 250 milliliter (ml) intravenous solution to be
infused over 2 hours. How many ml/hour should the nurse program the
infusion pump? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-125
250 ml : 2 hours = X ml : 1 hour 250 = 2X X = 250 divided by 2 = 125 ml/hr
The nurse is preparing to administer 0.25 mg of bumetanide (Bumex) IV. The
medication is available in a vial labeled 1 mg/4 ml. How many ml of
medication should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct
answer-1
, Using the Desired/Have x Volume formula: Desired = 0.25 mg Have = 1 mg
Volume = 4 ml 0.25 mg/1 mg x 4 ml = 1 ml
A client with hypertension receives a prescription for carteolol (Cartel) 7.5 mg
PO daily. The drug is available in 2.5 mg tablets. How many tablets should the
nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-3
Using D/H: 7.5 mg / 2.5 mg = 3 tablets
The healthcare provider prescribes trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
(Bactrim-DS Oral Suspension) 120 mg BID for a child with bronchitis. The
Bactrim bottle is labeled 200 mg/5ml. How many ml should the nurse
administer at each dose? (Enter numeric value only.) - correct answer-3
Using the formula D/H x Q, 120/200 x 5 = 3 ml
A 180-pound adult male is admitted to the Emergency Center after receiving
thermal burns to 60 percent of his body. Using the Parkland formula of 4
ml/kg/24 hours, the client should receive how many ml of fluid during the first
24 hours? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest whole number.) - correct answer-19632
Using the Parkland formula, the client's fluid requirements for the first 24 hours
after injury: 4 ml lactated Ringer's solution x Body weight (in kilograms) x
Percent burn. Convert 180 pounds to kg = .2 = 81.8 kg 4 ml x 81.8 kg x
60 = 19632 ml over the first 24 hours.
The healthcare provider prescribes acetazolamide (Diamox) 600 mg/m2/day
divided into 3 doses. The nurse calculates the child's body surface area (BSA)
as 0.7 m2. How many mg should the child receive per dose? (Enter numeric
value only.) - correct answer-140
Using the child's BSA, 0.7 m2, calculate the mg/dose, 600 mg x 0.7 m2 = 420
mg/day/3 doses = 140 mg/dose
A loading dose of acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) 8 grams, which is available as a
20% solution (200 mg acetylcysteine per ml) is prescribed by nasogastric tube
for a client with acetaminophen toxicity. How many ml of diluent should be
added to the medication to obtain a 1:4 concentration? (Enter numeric value
