DOSAGE CALCULATIONS MADE
EASY
SOLVING PROBLEMS USING
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
8TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)GLORIA PEARL
CRAIG
TEST BANK
,Question 1 (Easy)
A healthcare provider orders 500 mg of a medication. The
available tablets are 250 mg per tablet. How many tablets will
the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 1.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 2.5 tablets
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Step 1: Identify the desired dose and the available dose.
Desired: 500 mg. Available: 250 mg/tablet.
Step 2: Set up the dimensional-analysis equation.
Tablets to administer=1 tablet250 mg×500 mgTablets to adminis
ter=250 mg1 tablet×500 mg
Step 3: Cancel the units (mg) and solve.
=500250 tablets=2 tablets=250500 tablets=2 tablets
Medication Safety Note: Always double-check that the desired
dose and available dose are in the same unit before calculating.
Administering twice the prescribed dose is a significant
medication error.
,Question 2 (Easy)
The nurse needs to administer 0.5 g of a liquid medication. The
label reads 250 mg per 5 mL. How many mL will the nurse
administer?
A. 1 mL
B. 5 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 15 mL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Step 1: Convert to the same unit. The desired dose is 0.5 g.
Convert grams to
milligrams. 0.5 g×1000 mg/g=500 mg0.5 g×1000 mg/g=500 mg.
Step 2: Set up the dimensional-analysis equation.
mL to administer=5 mL250 mg×500 mgmL to administer=250 m
g5 mL×500 mg
Step 3: Cancel the units (mg) and solve.
=5×500250 mL=2500250 mL=10 mL=2505×500 mL=2502500
mL=10 mL
Medication Safety Note: The Three Checks of medication
administration should always be performed. This includes
, checking the calculation with another nurse for high-alert
medications.
Question 3 (Easy)
The provider orders amoxicillin 0.75 g PO. The pharmacy sends
amoxicillin 250 mg capsules. How many capsules will the nurse
administer?
A. 1 capsule
B. 2 capsules
C. 3 capsules
D. 4 capsules
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Step 1: Convert to the same
unit. 0.75 g×1000 mg/g=750 mg0.75 g×1000 mg/g=750 mg.
Step 2: Set up the dimensional-analysis equation.
Capsules=1 capsule250 mg×750 mgCapsules=250 mg1 capsule
×750 mg
Step 3: Cancel the units (mg) and solve.
=750250 capsules=3 capsules=250750 capsules=3 capsules
EASY
SOLVING PROBLEMS USING
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
8TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)GLORIA PEARL
CRAIG
TEST BANK
,Question 1 (Easy)
A healthcare provider orders 500 mg of a medication. The
available tablets are 250 mg per tablet. How many tablets will
the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 1.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 2.5 tablets
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Step 1: Identify the desired dose and the available dose.
Desired: 500 mg. Available: 250 mg/tablet.
Step 2: Set up the dimensional-analysis equation.
Tablets to administer=1 tablet250 mg×500 mgTablets to adminis
ter=250 mg1 tablet×500 mg
Step 3: Cancel the units (mg) and solve.
=500250 tablets=2 tablets=250500 tablets=2 tablets
Medication Safety Note: Always double-check that the desired
dose and available dose are in the same unit before calculating.
Administering twice the prescribed dose is a significant
medication error.
,Question 2 (Easy)
The nurse needs to administer 0.5 g of a liquid medication. The
label reads 250 mg per 5 mL. How many mL will the nurse
administer?
A. 1 mL
B. 5 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 15 mL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Step 1: Convert to the same unit. The desired dose is 0.5 g.
Convert grams to
milligrams. 0.5 g×1000 mg/g=500 mg0.5 g×1000 mg/g=500 mg.
Step 2: Set up the dimensional-analysis equation.
mL to administer=5 mL250 mg×500 mgmL to administer=250 m
g5 mL×500 mg
Step 3: Cancel the units (mg) and solve.
=5×500250 mL=2500250 mL=10 mL=2505×500 mL=2502500
mL=10 mL
Medication Safety Note: The Three Checks of medication
administration should always be performed. This includes
, checking the calculation with another nurse for high-alert
medications.
Question 3 (Easy)
The provider orders amoxicillin 0.75 g PO. The pharmacy sends
amoxicillin 250 mg capsules. How many capsules will the nurse
administer?
A. 1 capsule
B. 2 capsules
C. 3 capsules
D. 4 capsules
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Step 1: Convert to the same
unit. 0.75 g×1000 mg/g=750 mg0.75 g×1000 mg/g=750 mg.
Step 2: Set up the dimensional-analysis equation.
Capsules=1 capsule250 mg×750 mgCapsules=250 mg1 capsule
×750 mg
Step 3: Cancel the units (mg) and solve.
=750250 capsules=3 capsules=250750 capsules=3 capsules
