HESI DOSAGE CALCULATIONS ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
●● 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.)
Answer: 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.
●● 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.)
Answer: 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.)
Answer: 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.)
Answer: 100
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.)
Answer: 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.)
Answer: 2
Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X = 2
●● 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).
Answer: 1 or 0.5
Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml
10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
●● 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.)
Answer: 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.
●● 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.)
Answer: 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.)
Answer: 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.)
Answer: 100
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.)
Answer: 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.)
Answer: 2
Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X = 2
●● 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).
Answer: 1 or 0.5
Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml
10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
