BSN 215 HESI Dosage Calculation Exam Prep
2026 Questions and Answers | Nursing Math
Study Guide with Detailed Rationales,
Medication Calculations, Drug Dosages, IV
Flow Rates & NCLEX RN Preparation
• This BSN 215 HESI Dosage Calculation Exam Prep guide contains 300 NCLEX-style
questions with detailed EXPERT RATIONALE to sharpen your medication math
skills and boost exam confidence.
• Study by working through each question independently before revealing the
answer, using the bold correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE below each item to
reinforce your understanding.
Question 1 A physician orders amoxicillin 500 mg PO. The medication is available
as 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 12.5 mL
E. 15 mL
C. 10 mL EXPERT RATIONALE: Use the formula: (Desired/Have) × Volume =
(500/250) × 5 = 2 × 5 = 10 mL.
Question 2 A patient is ordered metformin 1 g PO. The tablets available are 500 mg
each. How many tablets should be given?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 1.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
,E. 2.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets EXPERT RATIONALE: 1 g = 1000 mg. 1000 mg ÷ 500 mg = 2 tablets.
Question 3 An order reads: furosemide 40 mg IV push. The vial contains 10 mg/mL.
How many mL will the nurse draw up?
A. 1 mL
B. 2 mL
C. 3 mL
D. 4 mL
E. 5 mL
D. 4 mL EXPERT RATIONALE: (40 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL) = 4 mL.
Question 4 A patient weighing 70 kg is ordered gentamicin 1.5 mg/kg IV. How many
mg should be administered?
A. 70 mg
B. 80 mg
C. 90 mg
D. 100 mg
E. 105 mg
E. 105 mg EXPERT RATIONALE: 1.5 mg/kg × 70 kg = 105 mg.
Question 5 The physician orders heparin 5,000 units subcutaneously. The vial
reads 10,000 units/mL. How many mL will the nurse administer?
A. 1 mL
B. 0.75 mL
,C. 0.5 mL
D. 0.25 mL
E. 2 mL
C. 0.5 mL EXPERT RATIONALE: 5,000 ÷ 10,000 = 0.5 mL.
Question 6 A nurse is to infuse 1,000 mL of NS over 8 hours. What is the flow rate
in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 115 mL/hr
C. 120 mL/hr
D. 130 mL/hr
E. 125 mL/hr
E. 125 mL/hr EXPERT RATIONALE: 1,000 mL ÷ 8 hours = 125 mL/hr.
Question 7 An IV of D5W 500 mL is ordered to infuse over 4 hours using a tubing
drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the drip rate in gtt/min?
A. 25 gtt/min
B. 28 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min
D. 35 gtt/min
E. 40 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min EXPERT RATIONALE: (500 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ (4 × 60 min) = 7,500 ÷
240 = 31.25 ≈ 31 gtt/min.
, Question 8 A child weighs 44 lbs. The order is for acetaminophen 15 mg/kg. How
many mg should be given?
A. 200 mg
B. 250 mg
C. 300 mg
D. 350 mg
E. 400 mg
C. 300 mg EXPERT RATIONALE: 44 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. 20 kg × 15 mg/kg = 300 mg.
Question 9 Ordered: morphine sulfate 4 mg IV. Available: morphine 10 mg/mL.
How many mL will the nurse give?
A. 0.2 mL
B. 0.3 mL
C. 0.4 mL
D. 0.5 mL
E. 0.6 mL
C. 0.4 mL EXPERT RATIONALE: 4 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 0.4 mL.
Question 10 A patient is ordered lisinopril 10 mg PO daily. Tablets available are 5
mg. How many tablets should be given?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 3 tablets
E. 4 tablets
2026 Questions and Answers | Nursing Math
Study Guide with Detailed Rationales,
Medication Calculations, Drug Dosages, IV
Flow Rates & NCLEX RN Preparation
• This BSN 215 HESI Dosage Calculation Exam Prep guide contains 300 NCLEX-style
questions with detailed EXPERT RATIONALE to sharpen your medication math
skills and boost exam confidence.
• Study by working through each question independently before revealing the
answer, using the bold correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE below each item to
reinforce your understanding.
Question 1 A physician orders amoxicillin 500 mg PO. The medication is available
as 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 12.5 mL
E. 15 mL
C. 10 mL EXPERT RATIONALE: Use the formula: (Desired/Have) × Volume =
(500/250) × 5 = 2 × 5 = 10 mL.
Question 2 A patient is ordered metformin 1 g PO. The tablets available are 500 mg
each. How many tablets should be given?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 1.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
,E. 2.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets EXPERT RATIONALE: 1 g = 1000 mg. 1000 mg ÷ 500 mg = 2 tablets.
Question 3 An order reads: furosemide 40 mg IV push. The vial contains 10 mg/mL.
How many mL will the nurse draw up?
A. 1 mL
B. 2 mL
C. 3 mL
D. 4 mL
E. 5 mL
D. 4 mL EXPERT RATIONALE: (40 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL) = 4 mL.
Question 4 A patient weighing 70 kg is ordered gentamicin 1.5 mg/kg IV. How many
mg should be administered?
A. 70 mg
B. 80 mg
C. 90 mg
D. 100 mg
E. 105 mg
E. 105 mg EXPERT RATIONALE: 1.5 mg/kg × 70 kg = 105 mg.
Question 5 The physician orders heparin 5,000 units subcutaneously. The vial
reads 10,000 units/mL. How many mL will the nurse administer?
A. 1 mL
B. 0.75 mL
,C. 0.5 mL
D. 0.25 mL
E. 2 mL
C. 0.5 mL EXPERT RATIONALE: 5,000 ÷ 10,000 = 0.5 mL.
Question 6 A nurse is to infuse 1,000 mL of NS over 8 hours. What is the flow rate
in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 115 mL/hr
C. 120 mL/hr
D. 130 mL/hr
E. 125 mL/hr
E. 125 mL/hr EXPERT RATIONALE: 1,000 mL ÷ 8 hours = 125 mL/hr.
Question 7 An IV of D5W 500 mL is ordered to infuse over 4 hours using a tubing
drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the drip rate in gtt/min?
A. 25 gtt/min
B. 28 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min
D. 35 gtt/min
E. 40 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min EXPERT RATIONALE: (500 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ (4 × 60 min) = 7,500 ÷
240 = 31.25 ≈ 31 gtt/min.
, Question 8 A child weighs 44 lbs. The order is for acetaminophen 15 mg/kg. How
many mg should be given?
A. 200 mg
B. 250 mg
C. 300 mg
D. 350 mg
E. 400 mg
C. 300 mg EXPERT RATIONALE: 44 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. 20 kg × 15 mg/kg = 300 mg.
Question 9 Ordered: morphine sulfate 4 mg IV. Available: morphine 10 mg/mL.
How many mL will the nurse give?
A. 0.2 mL
B. 0.3 mL
C. 0.4 mL
D. 0.5 mL
E. 0.6 mL
C. 0.4 mL EXPERT RATIONALE: 4 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 0.4 mL.
Question 10 A patient is ordered lisinopril 10 mg PO daily. Tablets available are 5
mg. How many tablets should be given?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 3 tablets
E. 4 tablets
