Dosage Calculation and
Medication
Administration
Competency 2026
### Question 1
The healthcare provider prescribes amoxicillin 500 mg orally every 8 hours for a patient with a
respiratory infection. The medication is available as 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer per dose?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
,D. 20 mL
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should use the formula: Desired dose / Available dose × Volume. 500
mg / 250 mg × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL per dose. The nurse should verify the calculation with a second
nurse before administration.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. 10 mL
---
### Question 2
The healthcare provider prescribes heparin 5,000 units subcutaneously every 12 hours. The medication
is available as 10,000 units/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 0.25 mL
B. 0.5 mL
C. 1 mL
D. 2 mL
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should calculate: 5,000 units / 10,000 units/mL = 0.5 mL. Heparin is
typically administered using a tuberculin syringe for accurate measurement of small volumes.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. 0.5 mL
---
,### Question 3
A patient is prescribed digoxin 0.25 mg orally daily. The medication is available as 0.125 mg tablets. How
many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 1.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should calculate: 0.25 mg / 0.125 mg per tablet = 2 tablets. The nurse
should verify the dose and ensure the patient's apical pulse is within acceptable parameters before
administration.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: D. 2 tablets
---
### Question 4
The healthcare provider prescribes cefazolin 1 g intravenous piggyback (IVPB) to be infused over 30
minutes. The medication is available in 100 mL of normal saline. At what rate should the nurse set the
infusion pump?
A. 100 mL/hour
B. 150 mL/hour
C. 200 mL/hour
, D. 250 mL/hour
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should calculate: 100 mL / 0.5 hours = 200 mL/hour. The medication
should be infused over 30 minutes to ensure proper administration and prevent adverse effects.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. 200 mL/hour
---
### Question 5
A patient is prescribed furosemide 40 mg intravenous push. The medication is available as 10 mg/mL.
How many mL should the nurse administer?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 6 mL
D. 8 mL
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should calculate: 40 mg / 10 mg/mL = 4 mL. The medication should be
administered slowly, typically no faster than 20 mg/minute, to prevent adverse effects such as
ototoxicity.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. 4 mL
---
Medication
Administration
Competency 2026
### Question 1
The healthcare provider prescribes amoxicillin 500 mg orally every 8 hours for a patient with a
respiratory infection. The medication is available as 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer per dose?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
,D. 20 mL
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should use the formula: Desired dose / Available dose × Volume. 500
mg / 250 mg × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL per dose. The nurse should verify the calculation with a second
nurse before administration.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. 10 mL
---
### Question 2
The healthcare provider prescribes heparin 5,000 units subcutaneously every 12 hours. The medication
is available as 10,000 units/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 0.25 mL
B. 0.5 mL
C. 1 mL
D. 2 mL
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should calculate: 5,000 units / 10,000 units/mL = 0.5 mL. Heparin is
typically administered using a tuberculin syringe for accurate measurement of small volumes.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. 0.5 mL
---
,### Question 3
A patient is prescribed digoxin 0.25 mg orally daily. The medication is available as 0.125 mg tablets. How
many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 1.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should calculate: 0.25 mg / 0.125 mg per tablet = 2 tablets. The nurse
should verify the dose and ensure the patient's apical pulse is within acceptable parameters before
administration.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: D. 2 tablets
---
### Question 4
The healthcare provider prescribes cefazolin 1 g intravenous piggyback (IVPB) to be infused over 30
minutes. The medication is available in 100 mL of normal saline. At what rate should the nurse set the
infusion pump?
A. 100 mL/hour
B. 150 mL/hour
C. 200 mL/hour
, D. 250 mL/hour
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should calculate: 100 mL / 0.5 hours = 200 mL/hour. The medication
should be infused over 30 minutes to ensure proper administration and prevent adverse effects.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. 200 mL/hour
---
### Question 5
A patient is prescribed furosemide 40 mg intravenous push. The medication is available as 10 mg/mL.
How many mL should the nurse administer?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 6 mL
D. 8 mL
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should calculate: 40 mg / 10 mg/mL = 4 mL. The medication should be
administered slowly, typically no faster than 20 mg/minute, to prevent adverse effects such as
ototoxicity.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. 4 mL
---
