HESI RN Dosage Pre-Assessment 2 – Targeted Practice Test for Dosage Calculation Readiness

HESI RN Dosage Pre-assessment 2
Question 1:
A client is receiving alprazolam (Xanax) 0.75 mg PO bid for anxiety. Alprazolam is
available in 0.5 mg scored tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Enter
numeric value only.)

Explanation

Correct Answer (tablets) : 1.5

Solution

Calculating the Alprazolam Dose

Problem: Administer 0.75 mg of alprazolam PO. The available concentration is 0.5
mg/tablet.

Steps:

Set up a proportion:

We want to find the number of tablets needed.

We know the desired dose (0.75 mg) and the concentration of the medication (0.5
mg/tablet).

Proportion:

x tablets / 0.75 mg = 1 tablet / 0.5 mg

Cross-multiply:

0.5x = 0.75

Solve for x:

x = 0..5

x = 1.5

Answer: The nurse should administer 1.5 tablets of alprazolam per dose.



Question 2:

,he health-care provider prescribes trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim-DS
Oral Suspension) 120 mg BID for a child with bronchitis. The Bactrim bottle is
labeled "200 mg/5ml." How many ml should the nurse administer at each dose?
(Enter the numeric value, whole number, only.)

Explanation

Correct Answer (mL of Bactrim-DS Oral Suspension per dose) : 3

Solution

Calculating the Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Dose

Problem: Administer 120 mg of Bactrim-DS Oral Suspension. The available
concentration is 200 mg/5 mL.

Steps:

Set up a proportion:

We want to find the number of milliliters (mL) needed.

We know the desired dose (120 mg) and the concentration of the medication (200 mg/5
mL).

Proportion:

x mL / 120 mg = 5 mL / 200 mg

Cross-multiply:

200x = 600

Solve for x:

x =

x=3

Answer: The nurse should administer 3 mL of Bactrim-DS Oral Suspension per
dose.



Question 3:

,An 88 pound child with iron deficiency anemia has been prescribed ferrous
fumarate 3 mg/kg/day PO three times daily. The medication is available in oral
suspension of 100 mg/5 ml. The nurse is instructing the mother in measuring the
correct dose. How many ml should the child receive for each dose?

Explanation

Correct Answer (mL) : 2

Solution

Calculating the Ferrous Fumarate Dose

Problem: Administer ferrous fumarate 3 mg/kg/day PO three times daily to an 88-pound
child. The available concentration is 100 mg/5 mL.

Steps:

Convert pounds to kilograms:

88 pounds x (1 kg / 2.20462 pounds) ≈ 39.9 kg

Calculate the daily dose:

3 mg/kg/day x 39.9 kg = 119.7 mg/day

Calculate the dose per administration (TID):

119.7 mg/day / 3 doses = 39.9 mg/dose

Set up a proportion:

We want to find the number of milliliters (mL) needed.

We know the desired dose (39.9 mg) and the concentration of the medication (100 mg/5
mL).

Proportion:

x mL / 39.9 mg = 5 mL / 100 mg

Cross-multiply:

100x = 199.5

Solve for x:

, x = 199.

x≈2

Answer: The child should receive approximately 2 mL of ferrous fumarate oral
suspension for each dose.



Question 4:

The nurse needs to calculate a client's oral temperature of 99.2??? Fahrenheit to
Celsius. What temperature in Celsius should the nurse document? (Enter numeric
value only. Round to the nearest tenth.)

Explanation

Correct Answer : 37.3

Solution

To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, you can use the following formula:

Celsius = (Fahrenheit - 32) x 5/9

In this case, the Fahrenheit temperature is 99.2. Plugging it into the formula:

Celsius = (99.2 - 32) x 5/9

Celsius = 67.2 x 5/9

Celsius = 37.33

Rounding to the nearest tenth, the Celsius temperature is 37.3.



Question 5:

Docusate sodium (Colace) 0.3 grams is prescribed for a client who has frequent
constipation. Each capsule contains 100 mg. How many capsules should the
nurse administer?

Explanation

Correct Answer (capsules) : 3