HESI Dosage Calculations Practice Exam
Prep Guide 2026
A client with cardiogenic shock weighs 220 lb and is receiving
dopamine at the rate of 3 mcg/kg/minute. The solution
strength available is dopamine 400 mg in 250 ml of D5W. The
nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver how many
ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required,
round to the nearest tenth.) - Correct Answers ✅11.3
First, convert pounds to kg, 220 lb : X = 2.2 lb : 1 kg = 100
kg. Next, calculate the dosage per minute, 3 mcg/kg/min x
100 kg = 300 mcg/min. Convert mcg/min to mcg/hour, 300
mcg/min x 60 min=18,000 mcg/hour. Convert mcg/hr to
mg/hour, 18,000 mcg/hr = 18.0 mg/hour. Calculate the rate,
400 mg : 250 ml = 18 mg : X ml 400X = 4500 X = 11.25 =
11.3 ml. So, 18 mg/11.3 ml should be infused at 11.3 ml/hour.
A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an
infusion of nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in D5W 250 ml at 75
ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to
the nearest tenth.) - Correct Answers ✅3.5
Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml
250X = 3750 and X = 15 mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr to
mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg / 1000 mcg = 15,000
mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly,
250 mcg/72.4 kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.
,HESI Dosage Calculations Practice Exam
Prep Guide 2026
A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of
800 mg/500 ml normal saline at 5 ml/hour. How many
mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value
only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.) -
Correct Answers ✅1.9
To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula:
desired rate (5 ml/hour) / volume available (500 ml) x dose
available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour. Next, convert
milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) /
60 minutes = 1.904 = 1.9 mcg/kg/minute.
A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9%
(Normal Saline) 250 ml with amiodarone (Cordarone) 1 gram
at 17 ml/hour. How many mg/minute of amiodarone is
infusing? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required,
round to the nearest tenth.) - Correct Answers ✅Convert
grams to mg, 1 gram equals 1,000 mg. Using ratio and
proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml :: X mg : 1ml 250X= 1,000 so
X = 4 mg/ml is the solution concentration of amiodarone. The
infusion rate (ml/hour) x concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60
minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x 4 mg/ml = 68/60 = 1.13 = 1.1
mg/minute.
A client who weighs 176 pounds is receiving an IV infusion
with esmolol hydrochloride (Brevibloc) at 48 ml/hour. The IV
solution is labeled with the concentration of Brevibloc 10
mg/ml. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving?
(Enter numeric value only.) - Correct Answers ✅100
,HESI Dosage Calculations Practice Exam
Prep Guide 2026
Convert pounds to kg by dividing 176 pounds by 2.2 pounds
= 80 kg. Convert the IV concentration from mg to mcg. 1
mg : 1000 mcg :: 10 mg : 10,000 mcg. Infusion rate (48
ml/hour) x concentration (10,000 mcg/ml) divided by 60
minutes/hour x 80 kg = 48 x 10,000 divided by 60 x 80 =
480, = 100 mcg/kg/minute.
The nurse is preparing the change-of-shift report for a client
who has a 265 ml secondary infusion that was started 2
hours ago at a rate of 85 ml/hour via an infusion pump. The
nurse should report that how many ml remain to be infused
by the on-coming nurse? (Enter numeric value only.) -
Correct Answers ✅95
85 ml x 2 hours = 170 ml has infused. 265 ml (total amount
to be infused) - 170 ml (amount infused) = 95 ml remain to
be infused.
A male client receives a prescription for ondansetron
hydrochloride (Zofran) 4 mg IV to prevent postoperative
nausea after an inguinal hernia repair. The medication is
available in 2 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse
administer? (Enter numeric value only.) - Correct Answers
✅2
Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X
=2
, HESI Dosage Calculations Practice Exam
Prep Guide 2026
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine,
Recombinant (Energix-B) 5 mcg IM to a school-aged child.
The vaccine is labeled, 10 mcg/ml. How many ml should the
nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth). - Correct Answers
✅1 or 0.5
Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml
10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
A client's daily PO prescription for aripiprazole (Abilify) is
increased from 15 mg to 30 mg. The medication is available
in 15 mg tablets, and the client already received one tablet
today. How many additional tablets should the nurse
administer so the client receives the total newly prescribed
dose for the day? (Enter numeric value only.) - Correct
Answers ✅1
30 mg (total dose) - 15 mg (dose already administered) = 15
mg that still needs to be administered. Using the
Desired/Have formula: 15 mg/15 mg = 1 tablet
At the end of the shift, the nurse is recording the fluid
balance for a client receiving a continuous gastrostomy tube
(GT) feeding. Based on the client's records, how many ml
should the nurse record for the total fluid balance (intake -
Prep Guide 2026
A client with cardiogenic shock weighs 220 lb and is receiving
dopamine at the rate of 3 mcg/kg/minute. The solution
strength available is dopamine 400 mg in 250 ml of D5W. The
nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver how many
ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required,
round to the nearest tenth.) - Correct Answers ✅11.3
First, convert pounds to kg, 220 lb : X = 2.2 lb : 1 kg = 100
kg. Next, calculate the dosage per minute, 3 mcg/kg/min x
100 kg = 300 mcg/min. Convert mcg/min to mcg/hour, 300
mcg/min x 60 min=18,000 mcg/hour. Convert mcg/hr to
mg/hour, 18,000 mcg/hr = 18.0 mg/hour. Calculate the rate,
400 mg : 250 ml = 18 mg : X ml 400X = 4500 X = 11.25 =
11.3 ml. So, 18 mg/11.3 ml should be infused at 11.3 ml/hour.
A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an
infusion of nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in D5W 250 ml at 75
ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to
the nearest tenth.) - Correct Answers ✅3.5
Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml
250X = 3750 and X = 15 mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr to
mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg / 1000 mcg = 15,000
mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly,
250 mcg/72.4 kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.
,HESI Dosage Calculations Practice Exam
Prep Guide 2026
A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of
800 mg/500 ml normal saline at 5 ml/hour. How many
mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value
only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.) -
Correct Answers ✅1.9
To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula:
desired rate (5 ml/hour) / volume available (500 ml) x dose
available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour. Next, convert
milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) /
60 minutes = 1.904 = 1.9 mcg/kg/minute.
A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9%
(Normal Saline) 250 ml with amiodarone (Cordarone) 1 gram
at 17 ml/hour. How many mg/minute of amiodarone is
infusing? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required,
round to the nearest tenth.) - Correct Answers ✅Convert
grams to mg, 1 gram equals 1,000 mg. Using ratio and
proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml :: X mg : 1ml 250X= 1,000 so
X = 4 mg/ml is the solution concentration of amiodarone. The
infusion rate (ml/hour) x concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60
minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x 4 mg/ml = 68/60 = 1.13 = 1.1
mg/minute.
A client who weighs 176 pounds is receiving an IV infusion
with esmolol hydrochloride (Brevibloc) at 48 ml/hour. The IV
solution is labeled with the concentration of Brevibloc 10
mg/ml. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving?
(Enter numeric value only.) - Correct Answers ✅100
,HESI Dosage Calculations Practice Exam
Prep Guide 2026
Convert pounds to kg by dividing 176 pounds by 2.2 pounds
= 80 kg. Convert the IV concentration from mg to mcg. 1
mg : 1000 mcg :: 10 mg : 10,000 mcg. Infusion rate (48
ml/hour) x concentration (10,000 mcg/ml) divided by 60
minutes/hour x 80 kg = 48 x 10,000 divided by 60 x 80 =
480, = 100 mcg/kg/minute.
The nurse is preparing the change-of-shift report for a client
who has a 265 ml secondary infusion that was started 2
hours ago at a rate of 85 ml/hour via an infusion pump. The
nurse should report that how many ml remain to be infused
by the on-coming nurse? (Enter numeric value only.) -
Correct Answers ✅95
85 ml x 2 hours = 170 ml has infused. 265 ml (total amount
to be infused) - 170 ml (amount infused) = 95 ml remain to
be infused.
A male client receives a prescription for ondansetron
hydrochloride (Zofran) 4 mg IV to prevent postoperative
nausea after an inguinal hernia repair. The medication is
available in 2 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse
administer? (Enter numeric value only.) - Correct Answers
✅2
Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X
=2
, HESI Dosage Calculations Practice Exam
Prep Guide 2026
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine,
Recombinant (Energix-B) 5 mcg IM to a school-aged child.
The vaccine is labeled, 10 mcg/ml. How many ml should the
nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth). - Correct Answers
✅1 or 0.5
Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml
10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
A client's daily PO prescription for aripiprazole (Abilify) is
increased from 15 mg to 30 mg. The medication is available
in 15 mg tablets, and the client already received one tablet
today. How many additional tablets should the nurse
administer so the client receives the total newly prescribed
dose for the day? (Enter numeric value only.) - Correct
Answers ✅1
30 mg (total dose) - 15 mg (dose already administered) = 15
mg that still needs to be administered. Using the
Desired/Have formula: 15 mg/15 mg = 1 tablet
At the end of the shift, the nurse is recording the fluid
balance for a client receiving a continuous gastrostomy tube
(GT) feeding. Based on the client's records, how many ml
should the nurse record for the total fluid balance (intake -
