ATI Dosage Calculation RN Adult Medical Surgical Practice
2026/2027 | ATI Dosage Calculation RN Adult Medical
Surgical Online Practice Assessment 3.0 Study Guide,
Practice Questions & Answers, ATI Dosage Calc Exam
Prep, Medication Dosage Calculations, Dimensional
Analysis, Ratio & Proportion, Desired Over Have, Oral
Medications, Injectable Medications, IV Medications,
Dosage by Weight, Safe Medication Administration &
Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide 40 mg IV
push to a client with heart failure. The available medication is
furosemide 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse
administer?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 6 mL
D. 8 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4 mL
Rationale: Using the universal formula (Desired ÷ Have × Quantity), 40 mg ÷
10 mg/mL = 4 mL. Furosemide is a high-alert medication; the nurse should
verify the calculation independently before administration.
Question 2: A provider prescribes heparin 8,000 units subcutaneously
every 12 hours. The pharmacy supplies heparin 10,000 units/mL. How
many milliliters should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 0.6 mL
B. 0.8 mL
C. 1.0 mL
D. 1.2 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 0.8 mL
Rationale: 8,000 units ÷ 10,000 units/mL = 0.8 mL. Heparin is a high-alert
medication requiring a tuberculin syringe for accurate measurement of
volumes less than 1 mL.
Question 3: A nurse is caring for a client who is to receive vancomycin 1
g IV intermittent bolus over 2 hours. The available solution is
vancomycin 1 g in 250 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. At what rate should
the nurse program the IV pump in mL/hr?
,A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 250 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 125 mL/hr
Rationale: Total volume (250 mL) ÷ infusion time (2 hr) = 125 mL/hr.
Vancomycin must be infused slowly to prevent Red Man Syndrome; rapid
infusion can cause histamine release.
Question 4: A provider prescribes digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily for a client
with atrial fibrillation. The available tablets are digoxin 0.25 mg each.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.25 tablet
B. 0.5 tablet
C. 1 tablet
D. 2 tablets
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 0.5 tablet
Rationale: Desired dose (0.125 mg) ÷ Available dose (0.25 mg) = 0.5 tablet.
Digoxin is a high-alert cardiac medication; use a pill cutter for accurate
splitting and never estimate partial tablets.
Question 5: A nurse is preparing to administer morphine sulfate 6 mg IV
push for postoperative pain. The available concentration is morphine
sulfate 4 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 1.0 mL
B. 1.5 mL
C. 2.0 mL
D. 2.5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1.5 mL
Rationale: 6 mg ÷ 4 mg/mL = 1.5 mL. Morphine is a high-alert opioid;
administer slowly over 4–5 minutes and monitor respiratory status closely.
Question 6: A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 500 mg PO.
The available suspension is labeled 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters
should the nurse administer?
,A. 5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 12.5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 10 mL
Rationale: (500 mg ÷ 250 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL. Shake oral
suspensions thoroughly before measuring to ensure uniform drug
distribution.
Question 7: The physician orders 1,000 mL of normal saline to infuse
over 8 hours. The IV tubing delivers 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in
drops per minute?
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 63 gtt/min
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 31 gtt/min
Rationale: (1,000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ 480 min = 15,000 ÷ 480 ≈ 31.25,
rounded to 31 gtt/min. Always round drops per minute to the nearest whole
number.
Question 8: A child weighing 22 kg is prescribed acetaminophen at a
dose of 15 mg/kg every 6 hours. How many milligrams should the child
receive per dose?
A. 150 mg
B. 220 mg
C. 330 mg
D. 450 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 330 mg
Rationale: 22 kg × 15 mg/kg = 330 mg per dose. Pediatric doses are weight-
based; verify the child's current weight in kilograms before calculating.
Question 9: A heparin infusion is ordered at 18 units/kg/hour for a
patient weighing 70 kg. The heparin solution is 25,000 units in 500 mL
D5W. What is the infusion rate in mL/hour?
, A. 18 mL/hr
B. 25.2 mL/hr
C. 30 mL/hr
D. 36 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 25.2 mL/hr
Rationale: Total dose per hour = 18 units/kg/hr × 70 kg = 1,260 units/hr.
Concentration = 25,000 units ÷ 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Infusion rate = 1,260
÷ 50 = 25.2 mL/hr.
Question 10: A nurse needs to administer 60 mEq of potassium chloride
IV. The available vial contains 40 mEq/20 mL. How many milliliters
should be given?
A. 15 mL
B. 20 mL
C. 30 mL
D. 40 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 30 mL
Rationale: (60 mEq ÷ 40 mEq) × 20 mL = 1.5 × 20 mL = 30 mL. Potassium
chloride must always be diluted before IV administration and infused at a
controlled rate to prevent cardiac dysrhythmias.
Question 11: A nurse is to administer 30 mg of furosemide (Lasix) IV to a
client with congestive heart failure. The vial contains 40 mg/mL. What
is the correct dose to administer?
A. 0.75 mL
B. 1.0 mL
C. 1.33 mL
D. 0.5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 0.75 mL
Rationale: 30 mg ÷ 40 mg/mL = 0.75 mL. Furosemide IV should be
administered slowly to prevent ototoxicity and hypotension.
Question 12: A nurse is to administer 150 mg of a drug intramuscularly.
The label on the multidose vial reads 100 mg/mL. What volume should
the nurse give?
2026/2027 | ATI Dosage Calculation RN Adult Medical
Surgical Online Practice Assessment 3.0 Study Guide,
Practice Questions & Answers, ATI Dosage Calc Exam
Prep, Medication Dosage Calculations, Dimensional
Analysis, Ratio & Proportion, Desired Over Have, Oral
Medications, Injectable Medications, IV Medications,
Dosage by Weight, Safe Medication Administration &
Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide 40 mg IV
push to a client with heart failure. The available medication is
furosemide 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse
administer?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 6 mL
D. 8 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4 mL
Rationale: Using the universal formula (Desired ÷ Have × Quantity), 40 mg ÷
10 mg/mL = 4 mL. Furosemide is a high-alert medication; the nurse should
verify the calculation independently before administration.
Question 2: A provider prescribes heparin 8,000 units subcutaneously
every 12 hours. The pharmacy supplies heparin 10,000 units/mL. How
many milliliters should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 0.6 mL
B. 0.8 mL
C. 1.0 mL
D. 1.2 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 0.8 mL
Rationale: 8,000 units ÷ 10,000 units/mL = 0.8 mL. Heparin is a high-alert
medication requiring a tuberculin syringe for accurate measurement of
volumes less than 1 mL.
Question 3: A nurse is caring for a client who is to receive vancomycin 1
g IV intermittent bolus over 2 hours. The available solution is
vancomycin 1 g in 250 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. At what rate should
the nurse program the IV pump in mL/hr?
,A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 250 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 125 mL/hr
Rationale: Total volume (250 mL) ÷ infusion time (2 hr) = 125 mL/hr.
Vancomycin must be infused slowly to prevent Red Man Syndrome; rapid
infusion can cause histamine release.
Question 4: A provider prescribes digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily for a client
with atrial fibrillation. The available tablets are digoxin 0.25 mg each.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.25 tablet
B. 0.5 tablet
C. 1 tablet
D. 2 tablets
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 0.5 tablet
Rationale: Desired dose (0.125 mg) ÷ Available dose (0.25 mg) = 0.5 tablet.
Digoxin is a high-alert cardiac medication; use a pill cutter for accurate
splitting and never estimate partial tablets.
Question 5: A nurse is preparing to administer morphine sulfate 6 mg IV
push for postoperative pain. The available concentration is morphine
sulfate 4 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 1.0 mL
B. 1.5 mL
C. 2.0 mL
D. 2.5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1.5 mL
Rationale: 6 mg ÷ 4 mg/mL = 1.5 mL. Morphine is a high-alert opioid;
administer slowly over 4–5 minutes and monitor respiratory status closely.
Question 6: A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 500 mg PO.
The available suspension is labeled 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters
should the nurse administer?
,A. 5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 12.5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 10 mL
Rationale: (500 mg ÷ 250 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL. Shake oral
suspensions thoroughly before measuring to ensure uniform drug
distribution.
Question 7: The physician orders 1,000 mL of normal saline to infuse
over 8 hours. The IV tubing delivers 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in
drops per minute?
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 63 gtt/min
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 31 gtt/min
Rationale: (1,000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ 480 min = 15,000 ÷ 480 ≈ 31.25,
rounded to 31 gtt/min. Always round drops per minute to the nearest whole
number.
Question 8: A child weighing 22 kg is prescribed acetaminophen at a
dose of 15 mg/kg every 6 hours. How many milligrams should the child
receive per dose?
A. 150 mg
B. 220 mg
C. 330 mg
D. 450 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 330 mg
Rationale: 22 kg × 15 mg/kg = 330 mg per dose. Pediatric doses are weight-
based; verify the child's current weight in kilograms before calculating.
Question 9: A heparin infusion is ordered at 18 units/kg/hour for a
patient weighing 70 kg. The heparin solution is 25,000 units in 500 mL
D5W. What is the infusion rate in mL/hour?
, A. 18 mL/hr
B. 25.2 mL/hr
C. 30 mL/hr
D. 36 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 25.2 mL/hr
Rationale: Total dose per hour = 18 units/kg/hr × 70 kg = 1,260 units/hr.
Concentration = 25,000 units ÷ 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Infusion rate = 1,260
÷ 50 = 25.2 mL/hr.
Question 10: A nurse needs to administer 60 mEq of potassium chloride
IV. The available vial contains 40 mEq/20 mL. How many milliliters
should be given?
A. 15 mL
B. 20 mL
C. 30 mL
D. 40 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 30 mL
Rationale: (60 mEq ÷ 40 mEq) × 20 mL = 1.5 × 20 mL = 30 mL. Potassium
chloride must always be diluted before IV administration and infused at a
controlled rate to prevent cardiac dysrhythmias.
Question 11: A nurse is to administer 30 mg of furosemide (Lasix) IV to a
client with congestive heart failure. The vial contains 40 mg/mL. What
is the correct dose to administer?
A. 0.75 mL
B. 1.0 mL
C. 1.33 mL
D. 0.5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 0.75 mL
Rationale: 30 mg ÷ 40 mg/mL = 0.75 mL. Furosemide IV should be
administered slowly to prevent ototoxicity and hypotension.
Question 12: A nurse is to administer 150 mg of a drug intramuscularly.
The label on the multidose vial reads 100 mg/mL. What volume should
the nurse give?
