DOSAGE CALCULATION, PREPARATION
& ADMINISTRATION
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SUSAN BUCHHOLZ
TEST BANK
1.
Reference
Ch. 1 — Multiplying Whole Numbers
Medication Calculation Question Stem
A provider orders acetaminophen 650 mg PO every 8 hours for
5 days. The medication supplied is scored 325 mg tablets. How
many whole tablets will the patient need for the entire 5-day
course? (Assume the scored tablet may be split only into
halves.)
Options
A. 15 tablets
,B. 30 tablets
C. 25 tablets
D. 10 tablets
Correct Answer
B. 30 tablets
Rationales
Correct Option (3–4 sentences):
Each dose required = 650 mg. Tablet strength = 325 mg, which
equals half-tablet = 162.5 mg and whole = 325 mg. Number of
tablets per dose = 650 ÷ 325 = 2 tablets per dose. Doses per day
= 24 ÷ 8 = 3; total doses = 3 × 5 = 15. Total tablets = 2 × 15 = 30
tablets. This uses simple multiplication and division of whole
numbers per Henke’s approach.
Incorrect Options (1–3 sentences each):
A. 15 tablets — This mistake likely counts one tablet per dose
instead of two (650 ÷ 325 = 2, not 1). Under-dosing results.
C. 25 tablets — This reflects rounding or arithmetic error (e.g.,
15 doses × 1.67 tablets) from mis-handling halves; tablets must
be counted as halves or whole.
D. 10 tablets — This underestimates by assuming fewer doses
or smaller per-dose tablet requirement; not consistent with 650
mg/dose.
Teaching Point (≤20 words)
Divide dose by tablet strength; multiply by doses — count
halves if tablets are scored.
,Citation
Buchholz, S. (2024). Henke’s Med-Math: Dosage Calculation,
Preparation & Administration (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
2.
Reference
Ch. 1 — Dividing Whole Numbers
Medication Calculation Question Stem
A provider orders ibuprofen 400 mg PO every 6 hours PRN. The
pharmacy supplies ibuprofen 200 mg tablets. How many tablets
are required for one 24-hour period if the patient takes the
maximum ordered PRN doses? (Assume a maximum every 6
hours.)
Options
A. 12 tablets
B. 6 tablets
C. 4 tablets
D. 8 tablets
Correct Answer
B. 6 tablets
Rationales
Correct Option (3–4 sentences):
Dose per administration = 400 mg. Tablet strength = 200 mg.
Tablets per dose = 400 ÷ 200 = 2 tablets. Doses per 24 hours =
24 ÷ 6 = 4. Total tablets per day = 2 × 4 = 8. Wait — recalc: check
, arithmetic: 2 tablets/dose × 4 doses/day = 8 tablets.
(Correction: the correct answer must be 8 tablets.) — Adjusting:
The correct choice in options (D) is 8 tablets.
[Note: The step-by-step calculation demonstrates dividing dose
by tablet strength, then multiplying by number of doses per
day.]
Incorrect Options (1–3 sentences each):
A. 12 tablets — This doubles the correct result; likely calculated
3 tablets per dose.
B. 6 tablets — Underestimates pills per day; likely assumed only
3 doses per day.
C. 4 tablets — Mistakenly equates one tablet per dose rather
than two.
Teaching Point (≤20 words)
Divide dose by strength, then multiply by number of
administrations per period.
Citation
Buchholz, S. (2024). Henke’s Med-Math: Dosage Calculation,
Preparation & Administration (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference
Ch. 1 — Fractions