BSN 215 HESI RN SPECIALTY DOSAGE CALCULATION EXAM – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL
DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
Core Domains:
Basic Medication Administration and Calculation Principles
Oral, Parenteral, and Intravenous Dosage Calculations
Intravenous Flow Rates and Infusion Time Calculations
Heparin and Insulin Dosage Calculations
Pediatric and Weight-Based Dosage Calculations
Critical Care and High-Alert Medication Calculations
Safe Medication Administration and Error Prevention
Nursing Scope of Practice, Legal, and Ethical Considerations
Interpretation of Medication Orders and Prescriptions
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment is designed to thoroughly evaluate your proficiency in essential dosage calculation
concepts required for the BSN 215 HESI RN Specialty Exam. It serves as a critical tool to gauge your ability to accurately
compute medication dosages, interpret complex prescriptions, and apply mathematical principles to real-world clinical
scenarios. The exam encompasses a wide array of topics, from foundational arithmetic and basic pharmacology to
advanced calculations involving intravenous infusions, weight-based dosing, and high-alert medications. The structure
integrates multiple-choice questions and scenario-based applications to simulate the critical thinking and decision-
making skills necessary for safe and effective nursing practice. Mastery of these concepts is paramount for ensuring
patient safety, demonstrating professional competence, and achieving success on the HESI exam.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1 – 100
1. A client is prescribed 500 mg of a medication. The available tablets are 250 mg each. How many tablets should
the nurse administer?
A. 3 tablets
B. 1 tablet
C. 0.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
🟢D
🔴 Explanation: The correct dosage is calculated by dividing the desired dose (500 mg) by the dose on hand (250
mg/tablet): 500 mg / 250 mg = 2 tablets.
2. The physician orders 0.25 g of a medication. The pharmacy supplies it as 125 mg per tablet. How many tablets will
the nurse give?
A. 0.5 tablets
B. 2 tablets
C. 1 tablet
D. 1.5 tablets
🟢B
🔴 Explanation: First, convert 0.25 g to mg (0.25 g x 1000 mg/g = 250 mg). Then calculate the number of tablets:
250 mg / 125 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
3. A patient is to receive 75 mg of meperidine (Demerol) IM. The vial contains 50 mg/mL. How many mL should the
nurse administer?
, A. 2 mL
B. 1 mL
C. 1.5 mL
D. 0.5 mL
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: The required volume is calculated by dividing the desired dose by the concentration: 75 mg / 50
mg/mL = 1.5 mL.
4. The healthcare provider prescribes digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.125 mg PO daily. The available tablets are 0.25 mg. How
many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 1 tablet
D. 1.5 tablets
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: The number of tablets is calculated as 0.125 mg / 0.25 mg/tablet = 0.5 tablets.
5. An IV order is for 1000 mL of D5W to infuse over 8 hours. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in
gtt/min?
A. 31 gtt/min
B. 15 gtt/min
C. 125 gtt/min
D. 21 gtt/min
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: Use the formula: (Volume x Drop Factor) / Time (in minutes) = (1000 mL x 15 gtt/mL) / (8 hours x
60 min/hour) = = 31.25, rounded to 31 gtt/min.
, 6. A child weighs 44 lbs. The ordered dose is 2 mg/kg. What is the total daily dose in mg? (Round to the nearest
whole number)
A. 40 mg
B. 20 mg
C. 88 mg
D. 44 mg
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: Convert weight to kg: 44 lbs / 2.2 = 20 kg. Then calculate the dose: 20 kg x 2 mg/kg = 40 mg.
7. A medication order states: 500 mg of ampicillin IVPB in 50 mL of NS to be infused over 30 minutes. What is the
flow rate in mL/hr? (Round to the nearest whole number)
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 50 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 75 mL/hr
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: Set up the proportion: 50 mL / 30 min = X mL / 60 min. Solving for X gives (50 mL x 60 min) / 30
min = 100 mL/hr.
8. Heparin 25,000 units in 500 mL of D5W is to infuse at 1000 units/hr. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 10 mL/hr
B. 20 mL/hr
C. 50 mL/hr
D. 100 mL/hr
🟢B
🔴 Explanation: First, determine the concentration: 25,000 units / 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Then, calculate the rate:
DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
Core Domains:
Basic Medication Administration and Calculation Principles
Oral, Parenteral, and Intravenous Dosage Calculations
Intravenous Flow Rates and Infusion Time Calculations
Heparin and Insulin Dosage Calculations
Pediatric and Weight-Based Dosage Calculations
Critical Care and High-Alert Medication Calculations
Safe Medication Administration and Error Prevention
Nursing Scope of Practice, Legal, and Ethical Considerations
Interpretation of Medication Orders and Prescriptions
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment is designed to thoroughly evaluate your proficiency in essential dosage calculation
concepts required for the BSN 215 HESI RN Specialty Exam. It serves as a critical tool to gauge your ability to accurately
compute medication dosages, interpret complex prescriptions, and apply mathematical principles to real-world clinical
scenarios. The exam encompasses a wide array of topics, from foundational arithmetic and basic pharmacology to
advanced calculations involving intravenous infusions, weight-based dosing, and high-alert medications. The structure
integrates multiple-choice questions and scenario-based applications to simulate the critical thinking and decision-
making skills necessary for safe and effective nursing practice. Mastery of these concepts is paramount for ensuring
patient safety, demonstrating professional competence, and achieving success on the HESI exam.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1 – 100
1. A client is prescribed 500 mg of a medication. The available tablets are 250 mg each. How many tablets should
the nurse administer?
A. 3 tablets
B. 1 tablet
C. 0.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
🟢D
🔴 Explanation: The correct dosage is calculated by dividing the desired dose (500 mg) by the dose on hand (250
mg/tablet): 500 mg / 250 mg = 2 tablets.
2. The physician orders 0.25 g of a medication. The pharmacy supplies it as 125 mg per tablet. How many tablets will
the nurse give?
A. 0.5 tablets
B. 2 tablets
C. 1 tablet
D. 1.5 tablets
🟢B
🔴 Explanation: First, convert 0.25 g to mg (0.25 g x 1000 mg/g = 250 mg). Then calculate the number of tablets:
250 mg / 125 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
3. A patient is to receive 75 mg of meperidine (Demerol) IM. The vial contains 50 mg/mL. How many mL should the
nurse administer?
, A. 2 mL
B. 1 mL
C. 1.5 mL
D. 0.5 mL
🟢C
🔴 Explanation: The required volume is calculated by dividing the desired dose by the concentration: 75 mg / 50
mg/mL = 1.5 mL.
4. The healthcare provider prescribes digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.125 mg PO daily. The available tablets are 0.25 mg. How
many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 1 tablet
D. 1.5 tablets
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: The number of tablets is calculated as 0.125 mg / 0.25 mg/tablet = 0.5 tablets.
5. An IV order is for 1000 mL of D5W to infuse over 8 hours. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in
gtt/min?
A. 31 gtt/min
B. 15 gtt/min
C. 125 gtt/min
D. 21 gtt/min
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: Use the formula: (Volume x Drop Factor) / Time (in minutes) = (1000 mL x 15 gtt/mL) / (8 hours x
60 min/hour) = = 31.25, rounded to 31 gtt/min.
, 6. A child weighs 44 lbs. The ordered dose is 2 mg/kg. What is the total daily dose in mg? (Round to the nearest
whole number)
A. 40 mg
B. 20 mg
C. 88 mg
D. 44 mg
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: Convert weight to kg: 44 lbs / 2.2 = 20 kg. Then calculate the dose: 20 kg x 2 mg/kg = 40 mg.
7. A medication order states: 500 mg of ampicillin IVPB in 50 mL of NS to be infused over 30 minutes. What is the
flow rate in mL/hr? (Round to the nearest whole number)
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 50 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 75 mL/hr
🟢A
🔴 Explanation: Set up the proportion: 50 mL / 30 min = X mL / 60 min. Solving for X gives (50 mL x 60 min) / 30
min = 100 mL/hr.
8. Heparin 25,000 units in 500 mL of D5W is to infuse at 1000 units/hr. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 10 mL/hr
B. 20 mL/hr
C. 50 mL/hr
D. 100 mL/hr
🟢B
🔴 Explanation: First, determine the concentration: 25,000 units / 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Then, calculate the rate:
