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BSN 215 HESI RN Dosage Calculation Exam
2026/2027 Actual Exam - Complete Questions
with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified
Graded A+ Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Basic Conversions & Oral Medications (Questions 1-15)
Q1: The healthcare provider orders 0.5 g of amoxicillin PO. The pharmacy dispenses amoxicillin
250 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer?
A. 1 capsule
B. 2 capsules
C. 3 capsules
D. 4 capsules
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Convert 0.5 g to mg: 0.5 g x 1,000 mg/g = 500 mg. Using the formula Desired/Have x
Quantity: 500 mg / 250 mg x 1 capsule = 2 capsules. Distractor A results from failing to convert
grams to milligrams.
Q2: A patient is prescribed 30 mL of magnesium hydroxide. How many tablespoons should the
nurse instruct the patient to take?
A. 1 tbsp
B. 2 tbsp
C. 3 tbsp
D. 0.5 tbsp
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Conversion: 1 tbsp = 15 mL. Calculation: 30 mL / 15 mL/tbsp = 2 tbsp. Distractor A
uses 30 mL as equal to 1 oz (which is close but not exact) or miscalculates the ratio.
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Q3: Order: Digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily. Available: Digoxin 0.25 mg scored tablets. How many
tablets will the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 1.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Calculation: 0.125 mg / 0.25 mg = 0.5 tablet. Since the tablet is scored, halving it is
permissible. Distractor B results from dividing the available by the desired (0.25/0.125).
Q4: Order: Cephalexin 500 mg PO q6h. Available: Cephalexin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL
should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Desired/Have x Quantity: 500 mg / 250 mg x 5 mL = 2 x 5 mL = 10 mL. Distractor A
is the quantity for a 250 mg dose.
Q5: Order: Penicillin V potassium 250 mg PO. Available: Penicillin V potassium 500 mg
reconstituted with 100 mL of water to yield 125 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: Calculate the total mL needed: (250 mg / 125 mg) x 5 mL = 2 x 5 mL = 10 mL. The
reconstitution details (500 mg in 100 mL) are extraneous information once the final
concentration (125 mg/5 mL) is known. Distractor C is a math error (3x factor).
Q6: Order: Levothyroxine 150 mcg PO daily. Available: Levothyroxine 0.075 mg tablets. How
many tablets will the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 3 tablets
D. 0.5 tablet
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Convert ordered dose to mg: 150 mcg = 0.15 mg. Calculation: 0.15 mg / 0.075 mg = 2
tablets. Distractor A results from misplacing the decimal (0.075 x 1).
Q7: A patient weighs 165 lbs. What is the patient's weight in kilograms? (Round to the nearest
tenth).
A. 72.0 kg
B. 74.5 kg
C. 75.0 kg
D. 82.5 kg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Conversion: 1 kg = 2.2 lbs. Calculation: .2 = 75 kg. Distractor A results from
using 2.3 lbs/kg. Distractor D results from dividing by 2.0.
Q8: Order: Lorazepam 1 mg IM. Available: Lorazepam 2 mg/mL. How many mL should the
nurse administer?
A. 0.25 mL
B. 0.5 mL
C. 1.0 mL
BSN 215 HESI RN Dosage Calculation Exam
2026/2027 Actual Exam - Complete Questions
with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified
Graded A+ Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Basic Conversions & Oral Medications (Questions 1-15)
Q1: The healthcare provider orders 0.5 g of amoxicillin PO. The pharmacy dispenses amoxicillin
250 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer?
A. 1 capsule
B. 2 capsules
C. 3 capsules
D. 4 capsules
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Convert 0.5 g to mg: 0.5 g x 1,000 mg/g = 500 mg. Using the formula Desired/Have x
Quantity: 500 mg / 250 mg x 1 capsule = 2 capsules. Distractor A results from failing to convert
grams to milligrams.
Q2: A patient is prescribed 30 mL of magnesium hydroxide. How many tablespoons should the
nurse instruct the patient to take?
A. 1 tbsp
B. 2 tbsp
C. 3 tbsp
D. 0.5 tbsp
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Conversion: 1 tbsp = 15 mL. Calculation: 30 mL / 15 mL/tbsp = 2 tbsp. Distractor A
uses 30 mL as equal to 1 oz (which is close but not exact) or miscalculates the ratio.
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Q3: Order: Digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily. Available: Digoxin 0.25 mg scored tablets. How many
tablets will the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 1.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Calculation: 0.125 mg / 0.25 mg = 0.5 tablet. Since the tablet is scored, halving it is
permissible. Distractor B results from dividing the available by the desired (0.25/0.125).
Q4: Order: Cephalexin 500 mg PO q6h. Available: Cephalexin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL
should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Desired/Have x Quantity: 500 mg / 250 mg x 5 mL = 2 x 5 mL = 10 mL. Distractor A
is the quantity for a 250 mg dose.
Q5: Order: Penicillin V potassium 250 mg PO. Available: Penicillin V potassium 500 mg
reconstituted with 100 mL of water to yield 125 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Correct Answer: B
, 3
Rationale: Calculate the total mL needed: (250 mg / 125 mg) x 5 mL = 2 x 5 mL = 10 mL. The
reconstitution details (500 mg in 100 mL) are extraneous information once the final
concentration (125 mg/5 mL) is known. Distractor C is a math error (3x factor).
Q6: Order: Levothyroxine 150 mcg PO daily. Available: Levothyroxine 0.075 mg tablets. How
many tablets will the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 3 tablets
D. 0.5 tablet
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Convert ordered dose to mg: 150 mcg = 0.15 mg. Calculation: 0.15 mg / 0.075 mg = 2
tablets. Distractor A results from misplacing the decimal (0.075 x 1).
Q7: A patient weighs 165 lbs. What is the patient's weight in kilograms? (Round to the nearest
tenth).
A. 72.0 kg
B. 74.5 kg
C. 75.0 kg
D. 82.5 kg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Conversion: 1 kg = 2.2 lbs. Calculation: .2 = 75 kg. Distractor A results from
using 2.3 lbs/kg. Distractor D results from dividing by 2.0.
Q8: Order: Lorazepam 1 mg IM. Available: Lorazepam 2 mg/mL. How many mL should the
nurse administer?
A. 0.25 mL
B. 0.5 mL
C. 1.0 mL
