INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NURS711 • 2026–2027
NURS711 — Comprehensive Pharmacotherapies Study Guide
2026–2027
NURS 711 | Pharmacotherapies for Nursing Practice
Institution / scope: University of South Carolina
Contents: 120 independently authored educational practice questions with one keyed answer and a rationale per question;
quick answer key at the end.
Original practice questions
Worked Medication Calculations
1. A fictional prescription specifies 100 mg orally; each tablet is 50 mg and is scored when a half-tablet is required.
How many tablets provide the ordered amount?
A. 4 tablet(s)
B. 20 tablet(s)
C. 2 tablet(s)
D. 1 tablet(s)
Correct Answer: C — 2 tablet(s)
Rationale: Calculation: 100 mg ÷ 50 mg/tablet = 2 tablet(s). Use scored tablets only if product policy permits splitting.
2. A fictional prescription specifies 125 mg orally; each tablet is 125 mg and is scored when a half-tablet is required.
How many tablets provide the ordered amount?
A. 10 tablet(s)
B. 1 tablet(s)
C. 0.5 tablet(s)
D. 2 tablet(s)
Correct Answer: B — 1 tablet(s)
Rationale: Calculation: 125 mg ÷ 125 mg/tablet = 1 tablet(s). Use scored tablets only if product policy permits
splitting.
3. A training-only oral-liquid order is 120 mg. The bottle contains 200 mg per 10 mL. What volume supplies the
ordered dose?
A. 12 mL
B. 60 mL
C. 6 mL
D. 3 mL
Correct Answer: C — 6 mL
Rationale: Concentration method: (120 mg × 10 mL)/(200 mg) = 6 mL.
4. For a supervised nursing calculation exercise, 120 mL is prescribed to infuse evenly over 4 hours. What is the
pump rate?
A. 15 mL/hour
B. 60 mL/hour
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 1
, INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NURS711 • 2026–2027
C. 300 mL/hour
D. 30 mL/hour
Correct Answer: D — 30 mL/hour
Rationale: Pump rate = total volume/time = 120/4 = 30 mL/hour. Confirm the device, line and authorized order
clinically.
5. For a supervised nursing calculation exercise, 160 mL is prescribed to infuse evenly over 4 hours. What is the
pump rate?
A. 80 mL/hour
B. 20 mL/hour
C. 40 mL/hour
D. 400 mL/hour
Correct Answer: C — 40 mL/hour
Rationale: Pump rate = total volume/time = 160/4 = 40 mL/hour. Confirm the device, line and authorized order
clinically.
6. For a supervised nursing calculation exercise, 240 mL is prescribed to infuse evenly over 6 hours. What is the
pump rate?
A. 40 mL/hour
B. 400 mL/hour
C. 20 mL/hour
D. 80 mL/hour
Correct Answer: A — 40 mL/hour
Rationale: Pump rate = total volume/time = 240/6 = 40 mL/hour. Confirm the device, line and authorized order
clinically.
7. Arithmetic practice only: patient weight 28 kg; ordered dose 15 mg/kg/dose. What is the calculated amount for
ONE dose?
A. 210 mg
B. 15 mg
C. 840 mg
D. 420 mg
Correct Answer: D — 420 mg
Rationale: Dose = 28 kg × 15 mg/kg/dose = 420 mg. This is a math exercise, not a recommended clinical dose.
8. Before giving a crushed tablet through a feeding tube, what must be verified?
A. That the formulation may be crushed and the route is appropriate
B. That the medication can be mixed with every other drug
C. That all extended-release tablets can be crushed
D. That flushing is unnecessary
Correct Answer: A — That the formulation may be crushed and the route is appropriate
Rationale: Extended-release and enteric-coated formulations often must not be crushed; compatibility and flushing
matter.
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 2
, INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NURS711 • 2026–2027
9. Order: 0.25 g of a medication. Available: 125 mg/tablet. How many tablets?
A. 4 tablets
B. 0.5 tablet
C. 1 tablet
D. 2 tablets
Correct Answer: D — 2 tablets
Rationale: 0.25 g = 250 mg; 250 ÷ 125 = 2 tablets.
10. Order: 1 g. Available: 500 mg/tablet. How many tablets? (1 g = 1000 mg.)
A. 1 tablets
B. 2 tablets
C. 0 tablets
D. 1000 tablets
Correct Answer: B — 2 tablets
Rationale: 1 g × 1000 = 1000 mg; 1000 mg ÷ 500 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
11. Order: 125 mg PO. Available: 125 mg per tablet (tablet can be split if needed). How many tablets?
A. 0.12 tablets
B. 0.5 tablets
C. 10 tablets
D. 1 tablets
Correct Answer: D — 1 tablets
Rationale: Ordered ÷ available = 125 mg ÷ 125 mg/tablet = 1 tablets.
12. Order: 150 mg PO. Available: 150 mg per tablet (tablet can be split if needed). How many tablets?
A. 0.15 tablets
B. 1 tablets
C. 0.5 tablets
D. 10 tablets
Correct Answer: B — 1 tablets
Rationale: Ordered ÷ available = 150 mg ÷ 150 mg/tablet = 1 tablets.
13. Order: 150 mg PO. Available: 50 mg per tablet (tablet can be split if needed). How many tablets?
A. 30 tablets
B. 0.33 tablets
C. 0.15 tablets
D. 3 tablets
Correct Answer: D — 3 tablets
Rationale: Ordered ÷ available = 150 mg ÷ 50 mg/tablet = 3 tablets.
Cardio
14. An ACE inhibitor user develops lip and tongue swelling. Which concern requires urgent action?
A. Potential airway-compromising angioedema
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 3
NURS711 — Comprehensive Pharmacotherapies Study Guide
2026–2027
NURS 711 | Pharmacotherapies for Nursing Practice
Institution / scope: University of South Carolina
Contents: 120 independently authored educational practice questions with one keyed answer and a rationale per question;
quick answer key at the end.
Original practice questions
Worked Medication Calculations
1. A fictional prescription specifies 100 mg orally; each tablet is 50 mg and is scored when a half-tablet is required.
How many tablets provide the ordered amount?
A. 4 tablet(s)
B. 20 tablet(s)
C. 2 tablet(s)
D. 1 tablet(s)
Correct Answer: C — 2 tablet(s)
Rationale: Calculation: 100 mg ÷ 50 mg/tablet = 2 tablet(s). Use scored tablets only if product policy permits splitting.
2. A fictional prescription specifies 125 mg orally; each tablet is 125 mg and is scored when a half-tablet is required.
How many tablets provide the ordered amount?
A. 10 tablet(s)
B. 1 tablet(s)
C. 0.5 tablet(s)
D. 2 tablet(s)
Correct Answer: B — 1 tablet(s)
Rationale: Calculation: 125 mg ÷ 125 mg/tablet = 1 tablet(s). Use scored tablets only if product policy permits
splitting.
3. A training-only oral-liquid order is 120 mg. The bottle contains 200 mg per 10 mL. What volume supplies the
ordered dose?
A. 12 mL
B. 60 mL
C. 6 mL
D. 3 mL
Correct Answer: C — 6 mL
Rationale: Concentration method: (120 mg × 10 mL)/(200 mg) = 6 mL.
4. For a supervised nursing calculation exercise, 120 mL is prescribed to infuse evenly over 4 hours. What is the
pump rate?
A. 15 mL/hour
B. 60 mL/hour
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 1
, INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NURS711 • 2026–2027
C. 300 mL/hour
D. 30 mL/hour
Correct Answer: D — 30 mL/hour
Rationale: Pump rate = total volume/time = 120/4 = 30 mL/hour. Confirm the device, line and authorized order
clinically.
5. For a supervised nursing calculation exercise, 160 mL is prescribed to infuse evenly over 4 hours. What is the
pump rate?
A. 80 mL/hour
B. 20 mL/hour
C. 40 mL/hour
D. 400 mL/hour
Correct Answer: C — 40 mL/hour
Rationale: Pump rate = total volume/time = 160/4 = 40 mL/hour. Confirm the device, line and authorized order
clinically.
6. For a supervised nursing calculation exercise, 240 mL is prescribed to infuse evenly over 6 hours. What is the
pump rate?
A. 40 mL/hour
B. 400 mL/hour
C. 20 mL/hour
D. 80 mL/hour
Correct Answer: A — 40 mL/hour
Rationale: Pump rate = total volume/time = 240/6 = 40 mL/hour. Confirm the device, line and authorized order
clinically.
7. Arithmetic practice only: patient weight 28 kg; ordered dose 15 mg/kg/dose. What is the calculated amount for
ONE dose?
A. 210 mg
B. 15 mg
C. 840 mg
D. 420 mg
Correct Answer: D — 420 mg
Rationale: Dose = 28 kg × 15 mg/kg/dose = 420 mg. This is a math exercise, not a recommended clinical dose.
8. Before giving a crushed tablet through a feeding tube, what must be verified?
A. That the formulation may be crushed and the route is appropriate
B. That the medication can be mixed with every other drug
C. That all extended-release tablets can be crushed
D. That flushing is unnecessary
Correct Answer: A — That the formulation may be crushed and the route is appropriate
Rationale: Extended-release and enteric-coated formulations often must not be crushed; compatibility and flushing
matter.
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 2
, INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NURS711 • 2026–2027
9. Order: 0.25 g of a medication. Available: 125 mg/tablet. How many tablets?
A. 4 tablets
B. 0.5 tablet
C. 1 tablet
D. 2 tablets
Correct Answer: D — 2 tablets
Rationale: 0.25 g = 250 mg; 250 ÷ 125 = 2 tablets.
10. Order: 1 g. Available: 500 mg/tablet. How many tablets? (1 g = 1000 mg.)
A. 1 tablets
B. 2 tablets
C. 0 tablets
D. 1000 tablets
Correct Answer: B — 2 tablets
Rationale: 1 g × 1000 = 1000 mg; 1000 mg ÷ 500 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
11. Order: 125 mg PO. Available: 125 mg per tablet (tablet can be split if needed). How many tablets?
A. 0.12 tablets
B. 0.5 tablets
C. 10 tablets
D. 1 tablets
Correct Answer: D — 1 tablets
Rationale: Ordered ÷ available = 125 mg ÷ 125 mg/tablet = 1 tablets.
12. Order: 150 mg PO. Available: 150 mg per tablet (tablet can be split if needed). How many tablets?
A. 0.15 tablets
B. 1 tablets
C. 0.5 tablets
D. 10 tablets
Correct Answer: B — 1 tablets
Rationale: Ordered ÷ available = 150 mg ÷ 150 mg/tablet = 1 tablets.
13. Order: 150 mg PO. Available: 50 mg per tablet (tablet can be split if needed). How many tablets?
A. 30 tablets
B. 0.33 tablets
C. 0.15 tablets
D. 3 tablets
Correct Answer: D — 3 tablets
Rationale: Ordered ÷ available = 150 mg ÷ 50 mg/tablet = 3 tablets.
Cardio
14. An ACE inhibitor user develops lip and tongue swelling. Which concern requires urgent action?
A. Potential airway-compromising angioedema
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 3
