Dosage Calculation Practice Exam – 2026 Nursing Math Review

Dosage Calculation Practice Exam –
2026 Nursing Math Review


Section 1: Basic Math & Conversions
(Questions 1-25)
1. The nurse is preparing to administer a medication. How many milligrams are in 0.5 grams?

 A) 5 mg

 B) 50 mg

 C) 500 mg

 D) 5,000 mg

Answer: C) 500 mg
Rationale: 1 gram = 1000 milligrams. Therefore, 0.5 grams = 0.5 × 1000 = 500 mg. Remember the metric
conversions: kg → g → mg → mcg (each multiplied by 1000).

2. The nurse is calculating a medication dose. How many milliliters are in 2.5 liters?

 A) 25 mL

 B) 250 mL

 C) 2,500 mL

 D) 25,000 mL

Answer: C) 2,500 mL
Rationale: 1 liter = 1000 milliliters. Therefore, 2.5 liters = 2.5 × 1000 = 2,500 mL. Remember the metric
conversions: L → mL (multiply by 1000).

3. The nurse is preparing an IV infusion. How many micrograms are in 0.25 mg?

 A) 25 mcg

 B) 250 mcg

 C) 2,500 mcg

 D) 25,000 mcg

,Answer: B) 250 mcg
Rationale: 1 mg = 1000 micrograms. Therefore, 0.25 mg = 0.25 × 1000 = 250 mcg. Remember the metric
conversions: mg → mcg (multiply by 1000).

4. The nurse is calculating a patient's intake. How many ounces are in 240 mL?

 A) 4 oz

 B) 6 oz

 C) 8 oz

 D) 10 oz

Answer: C) 8 oz
Rationale: 1 ounce = 30 mL (approximately). 240 mL ÷ 30 = 8 ounces. This is a standard conversion used
in clinical settings.

5. The nurse is converting pounds to kilograms. A patient weighs 154 pounds. What is the weight in
kilograms?

 A) 60 kg

 B) 65 kg

 C) 70 kg

 D) 75 kg

Answer: C) 70 kg
Rationale: 1 kg = 2.2 pounds. Therefore, 154 lb ÷ 2.2 = 70 kg. Remember the conversion: weight in
pounds ÷ 2.2 = weight in kilograms.

6. The nurse is calculating a medication dose using the ratio and proportion method. The order is for
250 mg of a medication. The available concentration is 500 mg per 5 mL. How many milliliters should
the nurse administer?

 A) 1.5 mL

 B) 2.0 mL

 C) 2.5 mL

 D) 3.0 mL

Answer: C) 2.5 mL
Rationale: Using ratio and proportion: 500 mg / 5 mL = 250 mg / x mL. Cross multiply: 500x = 1250. x =
= 2.5 mL.

7. The nurse is preparing an IV infusion of 1,000 mL of normal saline to be infused over 8 hours. What
is the infusion rate in mL/hour?

 A) 100 mL/hour

,  B) 125 mL/hour

 C) 150 mL/hour

 D) 200 mL/hour

Answer: B) 125 mL/hour
Rationale: Infusion rate = Total volume ÷ Time. 1,000 mL ÷ 8 hours = 125 mL/hour.

8. The nurse is calculating the drop rate for an IV infusion. The order is for 1,000 mL of D5W over 6
hours. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What is the infusion rate in gtt/min?

 A) 30 gtt/min

 B) 35 gtt/min

 C) 40 gtt/min

 D) 42 gtt/min

Answer: D) 42 gtt/min
Rationale: Step 1: Calculate mL/hour: 1000 mL ÷ 6 hours = 166.67 mL/hour. Step 2: Calculate mL/min:
166.67 ÷ 60 = 2.78 mL/min. Step 3: Calculate gtt/min: 2.78 × 15 = 41.7 ≈ 42 gtt/min.

9. The nurse is administering a medication that is available as 250 mg/5 mL. The order is for 0.75 g.
How many milliliters should the nurse administer?

 A) 10 mL

 B) 12.5 mL

 C) 15 mL

 D) 17.5 mL

Answer: C) 15 mL
Rationale: Step 1: Convert 0.75 g to mg: 0.75 × 1000 = 750 mg. Step 2: Use ratio and proportion: 250 mg
/ 5 mL = 750 mg / x mL. 250x = 3750. x = = 15 mL.

10. The nurse is calculating the daily fluid requirement for a pediatric patient using the Holliday-Segar
method. A child weighs 22 kg. What is the daily maintenance fluid requirement?

 A) 1,500 mL

 B) 1,600 mL

 C) 1,700 mL

 D) 1,800 mL

Answer: B) 1,600 mL
Rationale: Holliday-Segar method: 100 mL/kg for first 10 kg, 50 mL/kg for next 10 kg, 20 mL/kg for each
additional kg. First 10 kg: 10 × 100 = 1000. Next 10 kg: 10 × 50 = 500. Remaining 2 kg: 2 × 20 = 40. Total
= 1000 + 500 + 40 = 1,540 mL ≈ 1,600 mL (or 1,540 mL).

, 11. The nurse is preparing to administer an IV push medication. The order is for 0.5 mg/kg of a
medication. The patient weighs 80 kg. The available concentration is 40 mg/mL. How many milliliters
should the nurse administer?

 A) 0.5 mL

 B) 1.0 mL

 C) 1.5 mL

 D) 2.0 mL

Answer: B) 1.0 mL
Rationale: Step 1: Calculate dose: 0.5 mg/kg × 80 kg = 40 mg. Step 2: Calculate volume: 40 mg ÷ 40
mg/mL = 1 mL.

12. The nurse is calculating the intake for a patient. The patient drank 6 oz of juice, 8 oz of water, and
4 oz of soup. What is the total intake in mL?

 A) 360 mL

 B) 480 mL

 C) 540 mL

 D) 600 mL

Answer: C) 540 mL
Rationale: 1 oz = 30 mL. Total ounces = 6 + 8 + 4 = 18 oz. 18 × 30 = 540 mL.

13. The nurse is preparing to administer a medication. The order is for 1.5 grams of a medication. The
available concentration is 500 mg per tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer?

 A) 1 tablet

 B) 2 tablets

 C) 3 tablets

 D) 4 tablets

Answer: C) 3 tablets
Rationale: Step 1: Convert 1.5 g to mg: 1.5 × 1000 = 1,500 mg. Step 2: Calculate tablets: 1,500 mg ÷ 500
mg/tablet = 3 tablets.

14. The nurse is calculating an IV infusion rate. The order is for 500 mL of lactated Ringer's to be
infused over 4 hours. What is the infusion rate in mL/hour?

 A) 100 mL/hour

 B) 125 mL/hour

 C) 150 mL/hour