MEDICATION DOSAGE CALCULATIONS AND
ADMINISTRATION GUIDELINES
A nurse is preparing to administer hydrocodone oral solution 20 mg PO to a
client. The medication available is hydrocodone 5 mg/5 mL. How many Tbsp
should the nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓1 tbsp
A patient has an order for tetracycline 600 mg every 8 hours. The medication is
supplied in 300 mg capsules. What should the nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓2
tabs
A nurse is to administer 200 mg of a medication intramuscularly. The multidose
vial is labeled 80 mg/mL. How much should the nurse give? - ANSWER ✓2.5 mL
A nurse is assigned to administer 50 mg of furosemide (Lasix) to a client with
heart failure. The vial contains 25 mg/mL. What is the correct volume to
administer? - ANSWER ✓2 mL
The nurse is providing discharge instructions for a client prescribed 450 mg of an
oral liquid medication. The medication label reads 150 mg/mL. How many
milliliters should the nurse instruct the caregiver to give? - ANSWER ✓3 mL
A child is prescribed 400 mg of an antibiotic suspension. The bottle label states
200 mg/5 mL. How much should the nurse administer for one dose? - ANSWER
✓10 mL
A health care provider orders 375 mg of an antibiotic suspension. The label reads
250 mg/5 mL. How much should the nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓7.5 mL
The client is prescribed ascorbic acid 750 mg daily by mouth. The tablets
available are labeled 250 mg each. How many tablets will the nurse administer? -
ANSWER ✓3 tabs
The PCP prescribes amoxicillin 500 mg PO twice daily. The medication label
reads 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse give per dose? -
ANSWER ✓10 mL
,A nurse is to administer 225 mg of a medication intramuscularly. The vial
indicates 75 mg/mL. What volume should the nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓3
mL
The nurse is preparing to administer 90 mg of Solu-Medrol IV to a client. The vial
contains 180 mg per 3 mL. How much should the nurse draw up? - ANSWER
✓1.5 mL
The health care provider prescribes ascorbic acid 1 g daily. The tablets available
are 500 mg each. How many tablets should the nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓2
tabs
A client with congestive heart failure is prescribed 0.25 mg of digoxin. The
medication is available in 125-microgram tablets. How many tablets should the
nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓2 tabs
The nurse is to administer 40 mg of meperidine (Demerol). The vial states 80
mg/1 mL. How much medication should the nurse draw up? - ANSWER ✓0.5 mL
A nurse needs to convert 5 fluid ounces to the metric equivalent. What is the
correct result? - ANSWER ✓150 mL
A client has a one-time order for 6 mg morphine IV. The medication is supplied
in ampules labeled 15 mg/mL. What volume should the nurse draw up? -
ANSWER ✓0.4 mL
A physician orders 100 mcg of a medication IM daily. The vial is labeled 1 mg in
10 mL. How many milliliters will the patient receive? - ANSWER ✓1 mL
A nurse is evaluating a client’s medication orders. Which of the following
prescriptions should the nurse clarify with the provider? - ANSWER ✓Morphine 4
mg IV push PRN for postoperative pain
A nurse is getting ready to give a medication to a recently admitted client. Which
of the following actions is part of the assessment step of the nursing process? -
ANSWER ✓Inquiring about any previous drug allergies
A nurse is caring for a client who reports intense back pain at 1500. The client’s
prescriptions include hydromorphone extended-release 16 mg PO every 12 hr (last
, dose at 0700) and hydromorphone immediate-release 4 mg PO every 4 hr PRN
(last dose at 2200 the previous evening). What action should the nurse take? -
ANSWER ✓Administer hydromorphone immediate-release 4 mg PO now
A nurse on a medical-surgical floor is preparing to give medications to a client and
plans to use two identifiers. Which of the following actions are appropriate for
client identification? Select all that apply. - ANSWER ✓Match the name on the
client’s ID band with the medication administration record (MAR)
Ask the client to state their full name
Ask the client to verify their date of birth
Scan the client’s barcode identification band
A nurse realizes that a client has received double the prescribed medication dose.
What is the nurse’s first action? - ANSWER ✓Evaluate the client’s condition
A nurse is preparing to administer bisacodyl 10 mg tablet PO daily. The client
refuses the medication due to stomach discomfort. What action should the nurse
take? - ANSWER ✓Hold the medication
A nurse on a medical unit is orienting a newly licensed nurse. For which of the
following medications should a second nurse verify the dosage prior to
administration? - ANSWER ✓Insulin
A nurse is caring for a client prescribed carbamazepine XR 200 mg PO daily. The
client reports difficulty swallowing the tablet. What should the nurse do? -
ANSWER ✓Request an alternative extended-release formulation from the
pharmacy
After administering an antibiotic, a nurse monitors a client for adverse reactions.
Which of the following findings indicates an anaphylactic response? - ANSWER
✓Facial swelling
A nurse is documenting medication orders. Which is the correct way to write a
dose that requires a decimal? - ANSWER ✓0.8 mL
A charge nurse is explaining prescription types to a newly licensed nurse. Which
example represents a standing order? - ANSWER ✓Ibuprofen 400 mg PO every 6
hr for temperature above 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit)
ADMINISTRATION GUIDELINES
A nurse is preparing to administer hydrocodone oral solution 20 mg PO to a
client. The medication available is hydrocodone 5 mg/5 mL. How many Tbsp
should the nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓1 tbsp
A patient has an order for tetracycline 600 mg every 8 hours. The medication is
supplied in 300 mg capsules. What should the nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓2
tabs
A nurse is to administer 200 mg of a medication intramuscularly. The multidose
vial is labeled 80 mg/mL. How much should the nurse give? - ANSWER ✓2.5 mL
A nurse is assigned to administer 50 mg of furosemide (Lasix) to a client with
heart failure. The vial contains 25 mg/mL. What is the correct volume to
administer? - ANSWER ✓2 mL
The nurse is providing discharge instructions for a client prescribed 450 mg of an
oral liquid medication. The medication label reads 150 mg/mL. How many
milliliters should the nurse instruct the caregiver to give? - ANSWER ✓3 mL
A child is prescribed 400 mg of an antibiotic suspension. The bottle label states
200 mg/5 mL. How much should the nurse administer for one dose? - ANSWER
✓10 mL
A health care provider orders 375 mg of an antibiotic suspension. The label reads
250 mg/5 mL. How much should the nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓7.5 mL
The client is prescribed ascorbic acid 750 mg daily by mouth. The tablets
available are labeled 250 mg each. How many tablets will the nurse administer? -
ANSWER ✓3 tabs
The PCP prescribes amoxicillin 500 mg PO twice daily. The medication label
reads 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse give per dose? -
ANSWER ✓10 mL
,A nurse is to administer 225 mg of a medication intramuscularly. The vial
indicates 75 mg/mL. What volume should the nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓3
mL
The nurse is preparing to administer 90 mg of Solu-Medrol IV to a client. The vial
contains 180 mg per 3 mL. How much should the nurse draw up? - ANSWER
✓1.5 mL
The health care provider prescribes ascorbic acid 1 g daily. The tablets available
are 500 mg each. How many tablets should the nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓2
tabs
A client with congestive heart failure is prescribed 0.25 mg of digoxin. The
medication is available in 125-microgram tablets. How many tablets should the
nurse administer? - ANSWER ✓2 tabs
The nurse is to administer 40 mg of meperidine (Demerol). The vial states 80
mg/1 mL. How much medication should the nurse draw up? - ANSWER ✓0.5 mL
A nurse needs to convert 5 fluid ounces to the metric equivalent. What is the
correct result? - ANSWER ✓150 mL
A client has a one-time order for 6 mg morphine IV. The medication is supplied
in ampules labeled 15 mg/mL. What volume should the nurse draw up? -
ANSWER ✓0.4 mL
A physician orders 100 mcg of a medication IM daily. The vial is labeled 1 mg in
10 mL. How many milliliters will the patient receive? - ANSWER ✓1 mL
A nurse is evaluating a client’s medication orders. Which of the following
prescriptions should the nurse clarify with the provider? - ANSWER ✓Morphine 4
mg IV push PRN for postoperative pain
A nurse is getting ready to give a medication to a recently admitted client. Which
of the following actions is part of the assessment step of the nursing process? -
ANSWER ✓Inquiring about any previous drug allergies
A nurse is caring for a client who reports intense back pain at 1500. The client’s
prescriptions include hydromorphone extended-release 16 mg PO every 12 hr (last
, dose at 0700) and hydromorphone immediate-release 4 mg PO every 4 hr PRN
(last dose at 2200 the previous evening). What action should the nurse take? -
ANSWER ✓Administer hydromorphone immediate-release 4 mg PO now
A nurse on a medical-surgical floor is preparing to give medications to a client and
plans to use two identifiers. Which of the following actions are appropriate for
client identification? Select all that apply. - ANSWER ✓Match the name on the
client’s ID band with the medication administration record (MAR)
Ask the client to state their full name
Ask the client to verify their date of birth
Scan the client’s barcode identification band
A nurse realizes that a client has received double the prescribed medication dose.
What is the nurse’s first action? - ANSWER ✓Evaluate the client’s condition
A nurse is preparing to administer bisacodyl 10 mg tablet PO daily. The client
refuses the medication due to stomach discomfort. What action should the nurse
take? - ANSWER ✓Hold the medication
A nurse on a medical unit is orienting a newly licensed nurse. For which of the
following medications should a second nurse verify the dosage prior to
administration? - ANSWER ✓Insulin
A nurse is caring for a client prescribed carbamazepine XR 200 mg PO daily. The
client reports difficulty swallowing the tablet. What should the nurse do? -
ANSWER ✓Request an alternative extended-release formulation from the
pharmacy
After administering an antibiotic, a nurse monitors a client for adverse reactions.
Which of the following findings indicates an anaphylactic response? - ANSWER
✓Facial swelling
A nurse is documenting medication orders. Which is the correct way to write a
dose that requires a decimal? - ANSWER ✓0.8 mL
A charge nurse is explaining prescription types to a newly licensed nurse. Which
example represents a standing order? - ANSWER ✓Ibuprofen 400 mg PO every 6
hr for temperature above 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit)
