DRUG CALCULATION MASTERY: ORAL MEDICATIONS
COMPLETE PRACTICE QUESTION BANK
100 Expert-Level Oral Medication Calculations
Nursing & Pharmacy Exam Preparation
Perfect for: NCLEX-RN • NCLEX-PN • Pharmacy Technician • Nursing
School Finals • Clinical Competency Exams
Topics Covered: Tablets • Capsules • Liquid Suspensions • Syrups • Elixirs •
Extended-Release • Weight-Based Dosing • Pediatric Dosing • Fractional Tablets
• Course Duration Calculations
Skill Level: Beginner → Advanced
Total Questions: 100
Every question includes step-by-step solutions, clinical context, and safety notes.
Designed by healthcare educators for maximum exam success.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Questions Topic
1 1–10 Tablet Division & Basic Calculations
2 11–20 Liquid Suspensions & Elixirs
3 21–30 Capsule Counting
4 31–40 Weight-Based Pediatric Dosing
5 41–50 Combining Tablet Strengths
6 51–60 Different Concentration Solutions
7 61–70 Fractional (Scored) Tablets
8 71–80 Pediatric Syrups
nursing
,Section Questions Topic
9 81–90 Extended-Release Medications
10 91–100 Total Course & Daily Dose Calculations
HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT
1. Attempt each question independently before checking the answer.
2. Show all your work — examiners award partial credit for correct
methodology.
3. Review the safety notes — clinical judgment is as important as math
accuracy.
4. Time yourself — aim for 2–3 minutes per question on exam day.
5. Flag difficult questions for later review.
CLINICAL SAFETY REMINDERS
• Always verify the order against the medication administration record
(MAR).
• Check allergies before administering any medication.
• Use the “5 Rights” — Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right
Route, Right Time.
• Double-check pediatric doses — weight-based calculations are high-
risk.
• Never crush extended-release, enteric-coated, or sublingual medications.
• When in doubt, ask — patient safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Question 1: Oral Medication – Liquid Suspension
Patient: Benjamin, 6 years old
Order: Amoxicillin 250 mg PO q12h
Available: Amoxicillin 125 mg/5 mL suspension
Question: How many mL will you administer per dose?
nursing
,Answer
Step 1: Identify what you have and what you need. - Ordered: 250 mg -
Available: 125 mg per 5 mL
Step 2: Set up the proportion. - 125 mg / 5 mL = 250 mg / X mL
Step 3: Cross-multiply and solve. - 125 × X = 250 × 5 - 125X = 1250 - X = 1250 /
125
Step 4: Calculate. - X = 10.0 mL
Answer: 10.0 mL per dose
Question 2: Oral Medication – Weight-Based Pediatric Dose
Patient: Daniel, 10 years old, weight 12 kg
Order: Amoxicillin 40 mg/kg PO q6h PRN
Available: Amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL suspension
Question: How many mL will you administer per dose?
Answer
Step 1: Calculate the weight-based dose. - Dose = 40 mg/kg × 12 kg = 480 mg
Step 2: Identify what you have and what you need. - Ordered: 480 mg -
Available: 250 mg per 5 mL
Step 3: Set up the proportion. - 250 mg / 5 mL = 480 mg / X mL
Step 4: Cross-multiply and solve. - 250X = 480 × 5 - 250X = 2400 - X = 2400 /
250
Step 5: Calculate. - X = 9.6 mL
Answer: 9.6 mL per dose
Question 3: Oral Medication – Total Course Calculation
Patient: Mr. Thompson, 31 years old
Order: Linezolid 600 mg PO BID for 14 days
Available: Linezolid 600 mg tablets
nursing
, Question: a) How many tablets per dose? b) How many total tablets for the
entire course?
Answer
Part a – Tablets per dose:
Step 1: Identify what you have and what you need. - Ordered: 600 mg per dose -
Available: 600 mg per tablet
Step 2: Calculate. - Dose = (600 mg / 600 mg) × 1 tablet = 1 tablets per dose
Part b – Total tablets for the course:
Step 1: Calculate total doses. - BID = 2 times per day - 2 doses/day × 14 days =
28 total doses
Step 2: Calculate total tablets. - 28 doses × 1 tablets/dose = 28 tablets
Answer: a) 1 tablets per dose | b) 28 total tablets
Question 4: Oral Medication – Liquid Suspension
Patient: Jack, 10 years old
Order: Cephalexin 250 mg PO daily
Available: Cephalexin 125 mg/5 mL suspension
Question: How many mL will you administer per dose?
Answer
Step 1: Identify what you have and what you need. - Ordered: 250 mg -
Available: 125 mg per 5 mL
Step 2: Set up the proportion. - 125 mg / 5 mL = 250 mg / X mL
Step 3: Cross-multiply and solve. - 125 × X = 250 × 5 - 125X = 1250 - X = 1250 /
125
Step 4: Calculate. - X = 10.0 mL
Answer: 10.0 mL per dose
nursing
COMPLETE PRACTICE QUESTION BANK
100 Expert-Level Oral Medication Calculations
Nursing & Pharmacy Exam Preparation
Perfect for: NCLEX-RN • NCLEX-PN • Pharmacy Technician • Nursing
School Finals • Clinical Competency Exams
Topics Covered: Tablets • Capsules • Liquid Suspensions • Syrups • Elixirs •
Extended-Release • Weight-Based Dosing • Pediatric Dosing • Fractional Tablets
• Course Duration Calculations
Skill Level: Beginner → Advanced
Total Questions: 100
Every question includes step-by-step solutions, clinical context, and safety notes.
Designed by healthcare educators for maximum exam success.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Questions Topic
1 1–10 Tablet Division & Basic Calculations
2 11–20 Liquid Suspensions & Elixirs
3 21–30 Capsule Counting
4 31–40 Weight-Based Pediatric Dosing
5 41–50 Combining Tablet Strengths
6 51–60 Different Concentration Solutions
7 61–70 Fractional (Scored) Tablets
8 71–80 Pediatric Syrups
nursing
,Section Questions Topic
9 81–90 Extended-Release Medications
10 91–100 Total Course & Daily Dose Calculations
HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT
1. Attempt each question independently before checking the answer.
2. Show all your work — examiners award partial credit for correct
methodology.
3. Review the safety notes — clinical judgment is as important as math
accuracy.
4. Time yourself — aim for 2–3 minutes per question on exam day.
5. Flag difficult questions for later review.
CLINICAL SAFETY REMINDERS
• Always verify the order against the medication administration record
(MAR).
• Check allergies before administering any medication.
• Use the “5 Rights” — Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right
Route, Right Time.
• Double-check pediatric doses — weight-based calculations are high-
risk.
• Never crush extended-release, enteric-coated, or sublingual medications.
• When in doubt, ask — patient safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Question 1: Oral Medication – Liquid Suspension
Patient: Benjamin, 6 years old
Order: Amoxicillin 250 mg PO q12h
Available: Amoxicillin 125 mg/5 mL suspension
Question: How many mL will you administer per dose?
nursing
,Answer
Step 1: Identify what you have and what you need. - Ordered: 250 mg -
Available: 125 mg per 5 mL
Step 2: Set up the proportion. - 125 mg / 5 mL = 250 mg / X mL
Step 3: Cross-multiply and solve. - 125 × X = 250 × 5 - 125X = 1250 - X = 1250 /
125
Step 4: Calculate. - X = 10.0 mL
Answer: 10.0 mL per dose
Question 2: Oral Medication – Weight-Based Pediatric Dose
Patient: Daniel, 10 years old, weight 12 kg
Order: Amoxicillin 40 mg/kg PO q6h PRN
Available: Amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL suspension
Question: How many mL will you administer per dose?
Answer
Step 1: Calculate the weight-based dose. - Dose = 40 mg/kg × 12 kg = 480 mg
Step 2: Identify what you have and what you need. - Ordered: 480 mg -
Available: 250 mg per 5 mL
Step 3: Set up the proportion. - 250 mg / 5 mL = 480 mg / X mL
Step 4: Cross-multiply and solve. - 250X = 480 × 5 - 250X = 2400 - X = 2400 /
250
Step 5: Calculate. - X = 9.6 mL
Answer: 9.6 mL per dose
Question 3: Oral Medication – Total Course Calculation
Patient: Mr. Thompson, 31 years old
Order: Linezolid 600 mg PO BID for 14 days
Available: Linezolid 600 mg tablets
nursing
, Question: a) How many tablets per dose? b) How many total tablets for the
entire course?
Answer
Part a – Tablets per dose:
Step 1: Identify what you have and what you need. - Ordered: 600 mg per dose -
Available: 600 mg per tablet
Step 2: Calculate. - Dose = (600 mg / 600 mg) × 1 tablet = 1 tablets per dose
Part b – Total tablets for the course:
Step 1: Calculate total doses. - BID = 2 times per day - 2 doses/day × 14 days =
28 total doses
Step 2: Calculate total tablets. - 28 doses × 1 tablets/dose = 28 tablets
Answer: a) 1 tablets per dose | b) 28 total tablets
Question 4: Oral Medication – Liquid Suspension
Patient: Jack, 10 years old
Order: Cephalexin 250 mg PO daily
Available: Cephalexin 125 mg/5 mL suspension
Question: How many mL will you administer per dose?
Answer
Step 1: Identify what you have and what you need. - Ordered: 250 mg -
Available: 125 mg per 5 mL
Step 2: Set up the proportion. - 125 mg / 5 mL = 250 mg / X mL
Step 3: Cross-multiply and solve. - 125 × X = 250 × 5 - 125X = 1250 - X = 1250 /
125
Step 4: Calculate. - X = 10.0 mL
Answer: 10.0 mL per dose
nursing
