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DOSAGE CALCULATIONS RN ATI ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL
PROCTORED ASSESSMENT ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-2027 FULL
PACKAGE QUESTIONS ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
The Dosage Calculations RN ATI Adult Medical Surgical Proctored Assessment is a rigorous,
competency-based evaluation designed for nursing students preparing for professional practice. This
assessment validates a candidate's ability to safely and accurately calculate medication dosages
across a wide range of clinical scenarios encountered in adult medical-surgical settings. The exam is
critical because medication errors remain one of the most preventable causes of patient harm, and
nurses must demonstrate proficiency in dosage calculations before administering medications. The
assessment covers oral, parenteral, and intravenous medication calculations, weight-based dosing,
pediatric and adult considerations, unit conversions, and interpretation of medication orders. This
question bank has been meticulously crafted to simulate the advanced, application-level difficulty of
the actual ATI proctored assessment. By working through these 200 scenario-driven questions
covering dosage calculations and adult medical-surgical nursing concepts, you will develop the
critical reasoning and mathematical precision needed to pass on your first attempt.
CORE DOMAINS TESTED
1. Basic Dosage Calculations – Oral medication calculations, tablet and capsule calculations,
liquid medication dosages, and unit conversions.
2. Parenteral Medication Calculations – Intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal
injection calculations; reconstitution of powdered medications; and syringe selection.
3. Intravenous Calculations – IV flow rate calculations, drip rate calculations, infusion time
calculations, and IV medication administration.
4. Weight-Based Dosage Calculations – mg/kg dosing, dosage by body weight, and safe dose
range calculations.
5. Unit Conversions and Equivalents – Metric system conversions, household measurements,
apothecary equivalents, and temperature conversions.
6. Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts – Perioperative care, fluid and electrolyte balance,
cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, neurological, and endocrine disorders.
7. Medication Administration Safety – The Five Rights, high-alert medications, look-
alike/sound-alike drugs, and safe administration practices.
8. Clinical Judgment and Prioritization – Assessment, monitoring, patient education, and
evaluation of medication effectiveness.
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QUESTIONS 1-200
Q1: A client is prescribed 500 mg of amoxicillin orally. The pharmacy supplies
amoxicillin 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 1 tablet
B) 2 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 500 mg ÷ 250 mg per tablet = 2
tablets. Option A is incorrect because 1 tablet would provide only 250 mg.
Option C is incorrect because 3 tablets would provide 750 mg. Option D is
incorrect because 4 tablets would provide 1,000 mg.
Q2: A provider orders 1,000 mL of 0.9% normal saline to infuse over 8 hours.
The IV tubing has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in drops per
minute?
A) 21 gtt/min
B) 31 gtt/min
C) 41 gtt/min
D) 51 gtt/min
Rationale: The correct answer is B because flow rate = (volume × drop factor) ÷
time in minutes = (1,000 × 15) ÷ 480 = 15,000 ÷ 480 = 31.25, rounded to 31
gtt/min. Option A is incorrect because 21 gtt/min would result from an
incorrect calculation. Option C is incorrect because 41 gtt/min would result
from an incorrect calculation. Option D is incorrect because 51 gtt/min would
result from an incorrect calculation.
Q3: A client is prescribed 80 mg of furosemide IV. The pharmacy supplies
furosemide 40 mg/2 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 2 mL
B) 4 mL
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C) 6 mL
D) 8 mL
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 80 mg ÷ 40 mg × 2 mL = 4 mL.
Option A is incorrect because 2 mL would provide only 40 mg. Option C is
incorrect because 6 mL would provide 120 mg. Option D is incorrect because 8
mL would provide 160 mg.
Q4: A provider orders 1,200 mg of ibuprofen orally. The pharmacy supplies
ibuprofen 400 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 2 tablets
B) 3 tablets
C) 4 tablets
D) 6 tablets
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 1,200 mg ÷ 400 mg per tablet = 3
tablets. Option A is incorrect because 2 tablets would provide 800 mg. Option C
is incorrect because 4 tablets would provide 1,600 mg. Option D is incorrect
because 6 tablets would provide 2,400 mg.
Q5: A client weighs 70 kg and is prescribed 15 mg/kg of medication. What is
the total dose?
A) 850 mg
B) 1,050 mg
C) 1,200 mg
D) 1,400 mg
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 70 kg × 15 mg/kg = 1,050 mg.
Option A is incorrect because 850 mg would result from 70 × 12.14. Option C is
incorrect because 1,200 mg would result from 70 × 17.14. Option D is incorrect
because 1,400 mg would result from 70 × 20.
Q6: A client is prescribed 2,000 units of heparin subcutaneously. The pharmacy
supplies heparin 5,000 units/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 0.4 mL
B) 0.5 mL
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C) 0.8 mL
D) 1.0 mL
Rationale: The correct answer is A because 2,000 units ÷ 5,000 units × 1 mL =
0.4 mL. Option B is incorrect because 0.5 mL would provide 2,500 units. Option
C is incorrect because 0.8 mL would provide 4,000 units. Option D is incorrect
because 1.0 mL would provide 5,000 units.
Q7: A provider orders 750 mg of medication to be administered IV piggyback in
100 mL of D5W over 30 minutes. What is the flow rate in mL/hr?
A) 100 mL/hr
B) 200 mL/hr
C) 300 mL/hr
D) 400 mL/hr
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 100 mL ÷ 0.5 hours = 200 mL/hr.
Option A is incorrect because 100 mL/hr would deliver the dose in 1 hour.
Option C is incorrect because 300 mL/hr would deliver the dose in 20 minutes.
Option D is incorrect because 400 mL/hr would deliver the dose in 15 minutes.
Q8: A client is prescribed 0.5 mg of digoxin orally. The pharmacy supplies
digoxin 0.25 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 0.5 tablet
B) 2 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 0.5 mg ÷ 0.25 mg per tablet = 2
tablets. Option A is incorrect because 0.5 tablet would provide 0.125 mg.
Option C is incorrect because 3 tablets would provide 0.75 mg. Option D is
incorrect because 4 tablets would provide 1.0 mg.
Q9: A provider orders 1,000 mL of lactated Ringer's to infuse over 10 hours.
The IV tubing has a drop factor of 20 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in drops per
minute?
A) 23 gtt/min
B) 33 gtt/min
DOSAGE CALCULATIONS RN ATI ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL
PROCTORED ASSESSMENT ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-2027 FULL
PACKAGE QUESTIONS ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
The Dosage Calculations RN ATI Adult Medical Surgical Proctored Assessment is a rigorous,
competency-based evaluation designed for nursing students preparing for professional practice. This
assessment validates a candidate's ability to safely and accurately calculate medication dosages
across a wide range of clinical scenarios encountered in adult medical-surgical settings. The exam is
critical because medication errors remain one of the most preventable causes of patient harm, and
nurses must demonstrate proficiency in dosage calculations before administering medications. The
assessment covers oral, parenteral, and intravenous medication calculations, weight-based dosing,
pediatric and adult considerations, unit conversions, and interpretation of medication orders. This
question bank has been meticulously crafted to simulate the advanced, application-level difficulty of
the actual ATI proctored assessment. By working through these 200 scenario-driven questions
covering dosage calculations and adult medical-surgical nursing concepts, you will develop the
critical reasoning and mathematical precision needed to pass on your first attempt.
CORE DOMAINS TESTED
1. Basic Dosage Calculations – Oral medication calculations, tablet and capsule calculations,
liquid medication dosages, and unit conversions.
2. Parenteral Medication Calculations – Intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal
injection calculations; reconstitution of powdered medications; and syringe selection.
3. Intravenous Calculations – IV flow rate calculations, drip rate calculations, infusion time
calculations, and IV medication administration.
4. Weight-Based Dosage Calculations – mg/kg dosing, dosage by body weight, and safe dose
range calculations.
5. Unit Conversions and Equivalents – Metric system conversions, household measurements,
apothecary equivalents, and temperature conversions.
6. Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts – Perioperative care, fluid and electrolyte balance,
cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, neurological, and endocrine disorders.
7. Medication Administration Safety – The Five Rights, high-alert medications, look-
alike/sound-alike drugs, and safe administration practices.
8. Clinical Judgment and Prioritization – Assessment, monitoring, patient education, and
evaluation of medication effectiveness.
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QUESTIONS 1-200
Q1: A client is prescribed 500 mg of amoxicillin orally. The pharmacy supplies
amoxicillin 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 1 tablet
B) 2 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 500 mg ÷ 250 mg per tablet = 2
tablets. Option A is incorrect because 1 tablet would provide only 250 mg.
Option C is incorrect because 3 tablets would provide 750 mg. Option D is
incorrect because 4 tablets would provide 1,000 mg.
Q2: A provider orders 1,000 mL of 0.9% normal saline to infuse over 8 hours.
The IV tubing has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in drops per
minute?
A) 21 gtt/min
B) 31 gtt/min
C) 41 gtt/min
D) 51 gtt/min
Rationale: The correct answer is B because flow rate = (volume × drop factor) ÷
time in minutes = (1,000 × 15) ÷ 480 = 15,000 ÷ 480 = 31.25, rounded to 31
gtt/min. Option A is incorrect because 21 gtt/min would result from an
incorrect calculation. Option C is incorrect because 41 gtt/min would result
from an incorrect calculation. Option D is incorrect because 51 gtt/min would
result from an incorrect calculation.
Q3: A client is prescribed 80 mg of furosemide IV. The pharmacy supplies
furosemide 40 mg/2 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 2 mL
B) 4 mL
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C) 6 mL
D) 8 mL
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 80 mg ÷ 40 mg × 2 mL = 4 mL.
Option A is incorrect because 2 mL would provide only 40 mg. Option C is
incorrect because 6 mL would provide 120 mg. Option D is incorrect because 8
mL would provide 160 mg.
Q4: A provider orders 1,200 mg of ibuprofen orally. The pharmacy supplies
ibuprofen 400 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 2 tablets
B) 3 tablets
C) 4 tablets
D) 6 tablets
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 1,200 mg ÷ 400 mg per tablet = 3
tablets. Option A is incorrect because 2 tablets would provide 800 mg. Option C
is incorrect because 4 tablets would provide 1,600 mg. Option D is incorrect
because 6 tablets would provide 2,400 mg.
Q5: A client weighs 70 kg and is prescribed 15 mg/kg of medication. What is
the total dose?
A) 850 mg
B) 1,050 mg
C) 1,200 mg
D) 1,400 mg
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 70 kg × 15 mg/kg = 1,050 mg.
Option A is incorrect because 850 mg would result from 70 × 12.14. Option C is
incorrect because 1,200 mg would result from 70 × 17.14. Option D is incorrect
because 1,400 mg would result from 70 × 20.
Q6: A client is prescribed 2,000 units of heparin subcutaneously. The pharmacy
supplies heparin 5,000 units/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 0.4 mL
B) 0.5 mL
, 4
C) 0.8 mL
D) 1.0 mL
Rationale: The correct answer is A because 2,000 units ÷ 5,000 units × 1 mL =
0.4 mL. Option B is incorrect because 0.5 mL would provide 2,500 units. Option
C is incorrect because 0.8 mL would provide 4,000 units. Option D is incorrect
because 1.0 mL would provide 5,000 units.
Q7: A provider orders 750 mg of medication to be administered IV piggyback in
100 mL of D5W over 30 minutes. What is the flow rate in mL/hr?
A) 100 mL/hr
B) 200 mL/hr
C) 300 mL/hr
D) 400 mL/hr
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 100 mL ÷ 0.5 hours = 200 mL/hr.
Option A is incorrect because 100 mL/hr would deliver the dose in 1 hour.
Option C is incorrect because 300 mL/hr would deliver the dose in 20 minutes.
Option D is incorrect because 400 mL/hr would deliver the dose in 15 minutes.
Q8: A client is prescribed 0.5 mg of digoxin orally. The pharmacy supplies
digoxin 0.25 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 0.5 tablet
B) 2 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Rationale: The correct answer is B because 0.5 mg ÷ 0.25 mg per tablet = 2
tablets. Option A is incorrect because 0.5 tablet would provide 0.125 mg.
Option C is incorrect because 3 tablets would provide 0.75 mg. Option D is
incorrect because 4 tablets would provide 1.0 mg.
Q9: A provider orders 1,000 mL of lactated Ringer's to infuse over 10 hours.
The IV tubing has a drop factor of 20 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in drops per
minute?
A) 23 gtt/min
B) 33 gtt/min
