BSN 215 HESI Dosage Calculation Exam
Questions & Correct Answers with Detailed
Rationales
Question 1
The healthcare 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 numeric
value only.)
Correct Answer
3
DO/DA x Q
120/200 x 5
= 3 ml
Question 2
The healthcare provider prescribes acetaminophen elixir (Tylenol elixir) 600 mg PO q6
hours for an adult client experiencing pain associated with maxillofacial surgery. The
bottle is labeled 500 mg/15 ml. How many ml should the nurse administer? (Enter
numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer
18
Using the formula D/H x Q: 600 mg/500mg x 15 ml = 18 ml
Page 1 of 62
,Question 3
A client receives a prescription for azithromycin (Zithromax) 500 mg PO x 3 days.
Azithromycin is available as 250 mg scored tablets. How many tablets should the
nurse administer per dose? (Enter numeric value only.
Correct Answer
2
Using the formula, DO/DA
500 mg/250 mg
= 2 tablets
Question 4
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?
Correct Answer
3
Using the known equivalent, 1 gram = 1000 mg, the nurse should first convert the
dose to the same unit of measurement, which is
=0.3 gram = 300 milligram.
Using the formula, DO / DA x 1 capsule
= 300/100 x 1
= 3 capsules.
Question 5
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Energix-B) 5
mcg IM to a school-aged child. The vaccine is labeled, 10 mcg/ml. How many ml
should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round
to the nearest tenth).
Correct Answer
1 or 0.5
Use ratio and proportion,
5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml
10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
Page 2 of 62
,Question 6
A client experiencing cardiogenic shock receives a prescription for an IV infusion of
0.9% normal saline with milrinone (Primacor) 10 mg in 100 ml at a rate of 46
mcg/minute. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many
ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest
whole number.)
Correct Answer
28
First calculate the number of mcg/hour: 46 mcg x 60 minutes = 2760 mcg/hour.
Next calculate the number of ml/hour needed to administer 2760 mcg/hour: 10,000
mcg : 100 ml :: 2760 mcg : X 10, :: 100 / X 10,000X = 276000 X = 27.6
(rounded to) 28 ml/hour.
Question 7
The nurse is administering a 250 milliliter (ml) intravenous solution to be infused over
2 hours. How many ml/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump? (Enter
numeric value only.)
Correct Answer
125
250 ml : 2 hours = X ml : 1 hour 250 = 2X X = 250 divided by 2 = 125 ml/hr
Question 8
A client returns to the nursing unit from surgery with a prescription for Lactated
Ringer's solution 1,000 ml to be infused over 10 hours. The IV administration set
delivers 60 gtts/ml. The nurse should regulate the infusion to deliver how many
gtts/minute?
Correct Answer
100
First convert hours to minutes:
10 hrs x 60 = 600 minutes.
Using the formula
Volume/Time x drop factor:
=1000 ml /600 minutes
= 1.66666 x 60 = 100 gtts minute.
Page 3 of 62
, Question 9
A loading dose of acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) 8 grams, which is available as a 20%
solution (200 mg acetylcysteine per ml) is prescribed by nasogastric tube for a client
with acetaminophen toxicity. How many ml of diluent should be added to the
medication to obtain a 1:4 concentration? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest whole number.)
Correct Answer
120
8 grams = 8,000 mg prescribed dose. Using the formula, D/H x Q, 8,000 mg / 200
mg x 1 ml = 40 ml of the 20% solution. Dilute the 40 ml to a 1:4 concentration for
administration using ratio and proportion, 1 : 4 solution :: 40 ml : X X= 160 ml total
volume to administer. Subtract total volume of 160 ml - 40 ml of 20% concentration
= 120 ml diluent is added to obtain a 1:4 concentration.
Question 10
A client scheduled for surgery is to receive an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride
with prochlorperazine edisylate (Compazine) 10 mg/50 ml over 30 minutes. The nurse
should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric
value only.)
Correct Answer
100
Calculate: 50 ml : 30 minutes :: X ml : 60 minutes 50/X :: 30/60 3000 = 15X X = 100
ml
Page 4 of 62
Questions & Correct Answers with Detailed
Rationales
Question 1
The healthcare 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 numeric
value only.)
Correct Answer
3
DO/DA x Q
120/200 x 5
= 3 ml
Question 2
The healthcare provider prescribes acetaminophen elixir (Tylenol elixir) 600 mg PO q6
hours for an adult client experiencing pain associated with maxillofacial surgery. The
bottle is labeled 500 mg/15 ml. How many ml should the nurse administer? (Enter
numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer
18
Using the formula D/H x Q: 600 mg/500mg x 15 ml = 18 ml
Page 1 of 62
,Question 3
A client receives a prescription for azithromycin (Zithromax) 500 mg PO x 3 days.
Azithromycin is available as 250 mg scored tablets. How many tablets should the
nurse administer per dose? (Enter numeric value only.
Correct Answer
2
Using the formula, DO/DA
500 mg/250 mg
= 2 tablets
Question 4
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?
Correct Answer
3
Using the known equivalent, 1 gram = 1000 mg, the nurse should first convert the
dose to the same unit of measurement, which is
=0.3 gram = 300 milligram.
Using the formula, DO / DA x 1 capsule
= 300/100 x 1
= 3 capsules.
Question 5
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Energix-B) 5
mcg IM to a school-aged child. The vaccine is labeled, 10 mcg/ml. How many ml
should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round
to the nearest tenth).
Correct Answer
1 or 0.5
Use ratio and proportion,
5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml
10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
Page 2 of 62
,Question 6
A client experiencing cardiogenic shock receives a prescription for an IV infusion of
0.9% normal saline with milrinone (Primacor) 10 mg in 100 ml at a rate of 46
mcg/minute. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many
ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest
whole number.)
Correct Answer
28
First calculate the number of mcg/hour: 46 mcg x 60 minutes = 2760 mcg/hour.
Next calculate the number of ml/hour needed to administer 2760 mcg/hour: 10,000
mcg : 100 ml :: 2760 mcg : X 10, :: 100 / X 10,000X = 276000 X = 27.6
(rounded to) 28 ml/hour.
Question 7
The nurse is administering a 250 milliliter (ml) intravenous solution to be infused over
2 hours. How many ml/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump? (Enter
numeric value only.)
Correct Answer
125
250 ml : 2 hours = X ml : 1 hour 250 = 2X X = 250 divided by 2 = 125 ml/hr
Question 8
A client returns to the nursing unit from surgery with a prescription for Lactated
Ringer's solution 1,000 ml to be infused over 10 hours. The IV administration set
delivers 60 gtts/ml. The nurse should regulate the infusion to deliver how many
gtts/minute?
Correct Answer
100
First convert hours to minutes:
10 hrs x 60 = 600 minutes.
Using the formula
Volume/Time x drop factor:
=1000 ml /600 minutes
= 1.66666 x 60 = 100 gtts minute.
Page 3 of 62
, Question 9
A loading dose of acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) 8 grams, which is available as a 20%
solution (200 mg acetylcysteine per ml) is prescribed by nasogastric tube for a client
with acetaminophen toxicity. How many ml of diluent should be added to the
medication to obtain a 1:4 concentration? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest whole number.)
Correct Answer
120
8 grams = 8,000 mg prescribed dose. Using the formula, D/H x Q, 8,000 mg / 200
mg x 1 ml = 40 ml of the 20% solution. Dilute the 40 ml to a 1:4 concentration for
administration using ratio and proportion, 1 : 4 solution :: 40 ml : X X= 160 ml total
volume to administer. Subtract total volume of 160 ml - 40 ml of 20% concentration
= 120 ml diluent is added to obtain a 1:4 concentration.
Question 10
A client scheduled for surgery is to receive an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride
with prochlorperazine edisylate (Compazine) 10 mg/50 ml over 30 minutes. The nurse
should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric
value only.)
Correct Answer
100
Calculate: 50 ml : 30 minutes :: X ml : 60 minutes 50/X :: 30/60 3000 = 15X X = 100
ml
Page 4 of 62
