BSN 215 HESI RN Specialty Dosage
Calculation | Nightingale
1. A patient is prescribed 0.5 grams of an antibiotic. The available medication is in 250 mg
tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 3 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Answer: B
Rationale: The first step is to convert the prescribed dose from grams to milligrams by
multiplying 0.5 g by 1,000 to get 500 mg. Next, divide the required dose of 500 mg by the
available tablet strength of 250 mg. This calculation results in 2 tablets, which is the correct
amount to administer for the full dose.
2. The healthcare provider orders 1,000 mL of 0.9% Normal Saline to be infused over 8 hours.
What is the flow rate in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 115 mL/hr
,D. 150 mL/hr
Answer: B
Rationale: To determine the hourly rate, divide the total volume of 1,000 mL by the total
time of 8 hours. The calculation 1000 divided by 8 equals 125 mL per hour. Accurate IV
rate calculation is essential to prevent fluid overload or dehydration in the clinical setting.
3. A child weighing 44 lbs is prescribed a medication at 5 mg/kg. What is the total dose in
milligrams for this patient?
A. 220 mg
B. 100 mg
C. 88 mg
D. 200 mg
Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse must first convert the child’s weight from pounds to kilograms by
dividing 44 lbs by 2.2, which equals 20 kg. Then, multiply the weight of 20 kg by the dosage
of 5 mg per kg to find the total dose. This results in 100 mg, which is the safe and accurate
amount to administer based on the patient’s weight.
4. An IV of D5W is ordered to infuse at 100 mL/hr using a tubing with a drop factor of 15
gtt/mL. Calculate the drops per minute (gtt/min).
A. 20 gtt/min
, B. 30 gtt/min
C. 25 gtt/min
D. 15 gtt/min
Answer: C
Rationale: To calculate the drop rate, use the formula: (Total Volume in mL / Total Time in
minutes) multiplied by the drop factor. In this case, (100 mL / 60 minutes) times 15 equals
25 drops per minute. Monitoring the drop rate manually is a critical skill when an infusion
pump is unavailable.
5. The order is for Heparin 1,200 units/hr. The pharmacy provides an IV bag with 25,000 units
of Heparin in 500 mL of D5W. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 12 mL/hr
B. 24 mL/hr
C. 48 mL/hr
D. 20 mL/hr
Answer: B
Rationale: First, determine the concentration of units per mL by dividing 25,000 units by
500 mL, which equals 50 units/mL. Then, divide the ordered dose of 1,200 units/hr by the
concentration of 50 units/mL to find the hourly rate. The resulting calculation yields 24
mL/hr, ensuring the patient receives the precise amount of anticoagulant.