Dosage Calculations NCLEX-Style Practice Exam Review – Medication Math Questions & Rationales

Dosage Calculations NCLEX-Style Practice
Exam Review – Medication Math
Questions & Rationales
Instructions: This comprehensive practice exam contains 100 questions covering dosage calculations,
including oral medications, IV infusions, weight-based dosing, and pediatric calculations. Select the best
answer. Answers are in bold and rationales are in italic.



ORAL MEDICATION CALCULATIONS (Questions 1-25)



1. The healthcare provider orders amoxicillin 500 mg PO every 12 hours. The available medication is
amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 5 mL
B) 10 mL
C) 15 mL
D) 20 mL
Answer: B
Rationale: Use the formula: Desired / Available × Volume = 500 mg / 250 mg × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL
per dose.



2. The healthcare provider orders acetaminophen 650 mg PO every 6 hours prn. The available
medication is acetaminophen 325 mg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 1 tablet
B) 1.5 tablets
C) 2 tablets
D) 2.5 tablets
Answer: C
Rationale: 650 mg / 325 mg per tablet = 2 tablets per dose.



3. The healthcare provider orders ibuprofen 600 mg PO every 6 hours prn. The available medication is
ibuprofen 200 mg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 2 tablets
B) 3 tablets
C) 4 tablets
D) 5 tablets

,Answer: B
Rationale: 600 mg / 200 mg per tablet = 3 tablets per dose.



4. The healthcare provider orders cefalexin 500 mg PO twice daily. The available medication is
cefalexin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 5 mL
B) 10 mL
C) 15 mL
D) 20 mL
Answer: B
Rationale: 500 mg / 250 mg × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL per dose.



5. The healthcare provider orders digoxin 0.25 mg PO daily. The available medication is digoxin 0.125
mg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 0.5 tablets
B) 1 tablet
C) 2 tablets
D) 2.5 tablets
Answer: C
Rationale: 0.25 mg / 0.125 mg per tablet = 2 tablets per dose.



6. The healthcare provider orders warfarin 7.5 mg PO daily. The available medication is warfarin 2.5
mg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 1 tablet
B) 2 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Answer: C
Rationale: 7.5 mg / 2.5 mg per tablet = 3 tablets per dose.



7. The healthcare provider orders metformin 1,000 mg PO twice daily. The available medication is
metformin 500 mg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 1 tablet
B) 2 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Answer: B
Rationale: 1,000 mg / 500 mg per tablet = 2 tablets per dose.

, 8. The healthcare provider orders prednisone 60 mg PO daily. The available medication is prednisone
20 mg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 1 tablet
B) 2 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Answer: C
Rationale: 60 mg / 20 mg per tablet = 3 tablets per dose.



9. The healthcare provider orders furosemide 40 mg PO daily. The available medication is furosemide
20 mg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 0.5 tablets
B) 1 tablet
C) 2 tablets
D) 2.5 tablets
Answer: C
Rationale: 40 mg / 20 mg per tablet = 2 tablets per dose.



10. The healthcare provider orders levothyroxine 100 mcg PO daily. The available medication is
levothyroxine 50 mcg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 1 tablet
B) 1.5 tablets
C) 2 tablets
D) 2.5 tablets
Answer: C
Rationale: 100 mcg / 50 mcg per tablet = 2 tablets per dose.



11. The healthcare provider orders amoxicillin 1,000 mg PO every 12 hours. The available medication
is amoxicillin 500 mg capsules. How many capsules will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 1 capsule
B) 2 capsules
C) 3 capsules
D) 4 capsules
Answer: B
Rationale: 1,000 mg / 500 mg per capsule = 2 capsules per dose.



12. The healthcare provider orders potassium chloride 20 mEq PO daily. The available medication is
potassium chloride 10 mEq/15 mL. How many mL will the nurse administer per dose?
A) 15 mL
B) 20 mL