ATI DOSAGE CALCULATION AND SAFE MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION| ATI NURSING | ALL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026/2027 | VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALES
GRADED Q&A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE | VERIFIED
LATEST 2027
1. A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 7,500 units subcutaneously every 12 hours.
The available medication is heparin sodium injection 10,000 units/mL. How many mL
should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a
leading zero if applicable.)
A. 0.6 mL
B. 0.75 mL
C. 0.8 mL
D. 0.7 mL
To calculate the volume to administer, use the formula (Desired / Stock) x Quantity: (7,500
units / 10,000 units) x 1 mL = 0.75 mL. This calculation accurately yields the exact volume
required for the prescribed dose.
2. A physician prescribes furosemide 40 mg IV push to be administered over 2 minutes.
The medication is available as 10 mg/mL. What total volume of medication should the
nurse draw up?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 5 mL
D. 8 mL
Using the formula Desired divided by Stock (40 mg / 10 mg/mL), the nurse calculates a
volume of 4 mL to deliver the prescribed 40 mg dose safely.
3. A nurse receives an order for cefazolin 1 g IV intermittent infusion in 100 mL of 0.9%
sodium chloride to be infused over 30 minutes. The drop factor of the manual tubing is 15
gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in gtt/min? (Round to the nearest whole number.)
A. 25 gtt/min
,B. 45 gtt/min
C. 50 gtt/min
D. 60 gtt/min
Apply the formula (Volume in mL x Drop Factor) / Time in minutes: (100 mL x 15 gtt/mL) / 30
min = 1, = 50 gtt/min.
4. A pediatric client weighing 33 lb is prescribed amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day divided in equal
doses every 8 hours. What is the dose in mg the client should receive for each individual
administration?
A. 150 mg
B. 200 mg
C. 300 mg
D. 600 mg
First, convert pounds to kilograms: 33 lb / 2.2 = 15 kg. Next, calculate total daily dose: 15 kg x
40 mg/kg/day = 600 mg/day. Finally, divide by the number of daily doses (every 8 hours
equals 3 doses per day): 600 mg / 3 = 200 mg per dose.
5. An adult client is prescribed an IV infusion of normal saline at 125 mL/hr using tubing
with a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL. What is the correct flow rate in drops per minute?
A. 15 gtt/min
B. 21 gtt/min
C. 25 gtt/min
D. 42 gtt/min
Calculate using the formula (Volume in mL x Drop Factor) / Time in minutes: (125 mL x 10
gtt/mL) / 60 min = 1, = 20.83, which rounds to 21 gtt/min.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin elixir 0.125 mg PO. The available stock is
0.05 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 1.5 mL
B. 2.0 mL
,C. 2.5 mL
D. 3.0 mL
Using the dose-calculation formula (Desired / Stock): (0.125 mg / 0.05 mg/mL) = 2.5 mL. This
delivers the exact prescribed therapeutic amount.
7. A client with a nasogastric tube is prescribed to receive 240 mL of feeding formula plus
50 mL of water flush every 4 hours. What is the total fluid intake from these tube feedings
and flushes over a 24-hour period?
A. 1,440 mL
B. 1,740 mL
C. 1,920 mL
D. 2,160 mL
Calculate total fluid per feeding cycle: 240 mL + 50 mL = 290 mL. Determine the number of
cycles in 24 hours: 24 hours / 4 hours = 6 cycles. Multiply total fluid per cycle by number of
cycles: 290 mL x 6 = 1,740 mL.
8. A nurse is reviewing a prescription for regular insulin sliding scale before meals. Which
of the following client safety checks is the highest priority for the nurse to perform
immediately prior to administration?
A. Verify the client's room number on the door
B. Check the expiration date on the multi-dose insulin vial
C. Verify the client's blood glucose level and recent meal tray arrival status
D. Document the administration time in the electronic health record
Insulin sliding scale doses are strictly contingent upon the client's immediate pre-meal blood
glucose level and nutritional intake status to prevent severe iatrogenic hypoglycemia.
9. A client is prescribed vancomycin 1 g IV every 12 hours. The pharmacy provides
vancomycin 1 g in 250 mL of D5W to infuse over 90 minutes. What is the hourly infusion
rate in mL/hr?
A. 125 mL/hr
B. 150 mL/hr
, C. 167 mL/hr
D. 200 mL/hr
Calculate mL/hr using the formula (Volume / Time in hours): Time in hours = 90 minutes / 60
minutes = 1.5 hours. Rate = 250 mL / 1.5 hr = 166.67 mL/hr, which rounds to 167 mL/hr.
10. A nurse is preparing to administer morphine sulfate 4 mg IV bolus. The available
medication is labeled 10 mg/mL. What volume should the nurse administer?
A. 0.2 mL
B. 0.4 mL
C. 0.5 mL
D. 0.8 mL
Using the formula (Desired / Stock): (4 mg / 10 mg/mL) = 0.4 mL. This calculation accurately
matches the required intravenous dose.
11. A client weighs 176 lb and has a prescription for dopamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min.
The pharmacy supplies dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL D5W. What is the calculated infusion
rate in mL/hr?
A. 15 mL/hr
B. 21 mL/hr
C. 30 mL/hr
D. 45 mL/hr
Convert weight to kg (80 kg). Determine total mcg/min required (400 mcg/min), convert to
mcg/hr (24,000 mcg/hr). Divide by concentration (1,600 mcg/mL) to yield 15 mL/hr.
12. A nurse is scheduled to administer potassium chloride 20 mEq oral solution in 30 mL of
juice. Which of the following actions is essential for safe administration of liquid oral
potassium?
A. Administer the medication undiluted for rapid systemic absorption
B. Ensure the solution is thoroughly diluted and instruct the client to rinse their mouth
afterward
ADMINISTRATION| ATI NURSING | ALL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026/2027 | VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALES
GRADED Q&A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE | VERIFIED
LATEST 2027
1. A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 7,500 units subcutaneously every 12 hours.
The available medication is heparin sodium injection 10,000 units/mL. How many mL
should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a
leading zero if applicable.)
A. 0.6 mL
B. 0.75 mL
C. 0.8 mL
D. 0.7 mL
To calculate the volume to administer, use the formula (Desired / Stock) x Quantity: (7,500
units / 10,000 units) x 1 mL = 0.75 mL. This calculation accurately yields the exact volume
required for the prescribed dose.
2. A physician prescribes furosemide 40 mg IV push to be administered over 2 minutes.
The medication is available as 10 mg/mL. What total volume of medication should the
nurse draw up?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 5 mL
D. 8 mL
Using the formula Desired divided by Stock (40 mg / 10 mg/mL), the nurse calculates a
volume of 4 mL to deliver the prescribed 40 mg dose safely.
3. A nurse receives an order for cefazolin 1 g IV intermittent infusion in 100 mL of 0.9%
sodium chloride to be infused over 30 minutes. The drop factor of the manual tubing is 15
gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in gtt/min? (Round to the nearest whole number.)
A. 25 gtt/min
,B. 45 gtt/min
C. 50 gtt/min
D. 60 gtt/min
Apply the formula (Volume in mL x Drop Factor) / Time in minutes: (100 mL x 15 gtt/mL) / 30
min = 1, = 50 gtt/min.
4. A pediatric client weighing 33 lb is prescribed amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day divided in equal
doses every 8 hours. What is the dose in mg the client should receive for each individual
administration?
A. 150 mg
B. 200 mg
C. 300 mg
D. 600 mg
First, convert pounds to kilograms: 33 lb / 2.2 = 15 kg. Next, calculate total daily dose: 15 kg x
40 mg/kg/day = 600 mg/day. Finally, divide by the number of daily doses (every 8 hours
equals 3 doses per day): 600 mg / 3 = 200 mg per dose.
5. An adult client is prescribed an IV infusion of normal saline at 125 mL/hr using tubing
with a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL. What is the correct flow rate in drops per minute?
A. 15 gtt/min
B. 21 gtt/min
C. 25 gtt/min
D. 42 gtt/min
Calculate using the formula (Volume in mL x Drop Factor) / Time in minutes: (125 mL x 10
gtt/mL) / 60 min = 1, = 20.83, which rounds to 21 gtt/min.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin elixir 0.125 mg PO. The available stock is
0.05 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 1.5 mL
B. 2.0 mL
,C. 2.5 mL
D. 3.0 mL
Using the dose-calculation formula (Desired / Stock): (0.125 mg / 0.05 mg/mL) = 2.5 mL. This
delivers the exact prescribed therapeutic amount.
7. A client with a nasogastric tube is prescribed to receive 240 mL of feeding formula plus
50 mL of water flush every 4 hours. What is the total fluid intake from these tube feedings
and flushes over a 24-hour period?
A. 1,440 mL
B. 1,740 mL
C. 1,920 mL
D. 2,160 mL
Calculate total fluid per feeding cycle: 240 mL + 50 mL = 290 mL. Determine the number of
cycles in 24 hours: 24 hours / 4 hours = 6 cycles. Multiply total fluid per cycle by number of
cycles: 290 mL x 6 = 1,740 mL.
8. A nurse is reviewing a prescription for regular insulin sliding scale before meals. Which
of the following client safety checks is the highest priority for the nurse to perform
immediately prior to administration?
A. Verify the client's room number on the door
B. Check the expiration date on the multi-dose insulin vial
C. Verify the client's blood glucose level and recent meal tray arrival status
D. Document the administration time in the electronic health record
Insulin sliding scale doses are strictly contingent upon the client's immediate pre-meal blood
glucose level and nutritional intake status to prevent severe iatrogenic hypoglycemia.
9. A client is prescribed vancomycin 1 g IV every 12 hours. The pharmacy provides
vancomycin 1 g in 250 mL of D5W to infuse over 90 minutes. What is the hourly infusion
rate in mL/hr?
A. 125 mL/hr
B. 150 mL/hr
, C. 167 mL/hr
D. 200 mL/hr
Calculate mL/hr using the formula (Volume / Time in hours): Time in hours = 90 minutes / 60
minutes = 1.5 hours. Rate = 250 mL / 1.5 hr = 166.67 mL/hr, which rounds to 167 mL/hr.
10. A nurse is preparing to administer morphine sulfate 4 mg IV bolus. The available
medication is labeled 10 mg/mL. What volume should the nurse administer?
A. 0.2 mL
B. 0.4 mL
C. 0.5 mL
D. 0.8 mL
Using the formula (Desired / Stock): (4 mg / 10 mg/mL) = 0.4 mL. This calculation accurately
matches the required intravenous dose.
11. A client weighs 176 lb and has a prescription for dopamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min.
The pharmacy supplies dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL D5W. What is the calculated infusion
rate in mL/hr?
A. 15 mL/hr
B. 21 mL/hr
C. 30 mL/hr
D. 45 mL/hr
Convert weight to kg (80 kg). Determine total mcg/min required (400 mcg/min), convert to
mcg/hr (24,000 mcg/hr). Divide by concentration (1,600 mcg/mL) to yield 15 mL/hr.
12. A nurse is scheduled to administer potassium chloride 20 mEq oral solution in 30 mL of
juice. Which of the following actions is essential for safe administration of liquid oral
potassium?
A. Administer the medication undiluted for rapid systemic absorption
B. Ensure the solution is thoroughly diluted and instruct the client to rinse their mouth
afterward
