BSN 215 HESI DOSAGE CALCULATION EXAM– QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE |
EXAM PREP | STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE TEST| DOWNLOAD
INSTANT PDF
1. A healthcare provider orders potassium chloride 20 mEq PO dissolved in 4 oz of juice
twice daily. The pharmacy supplies potassium chloride liquid 10 mEq/15 mL. How many
milliliters should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 15 mL
B. 30 mL
C. 45 mL
D. 60 mL
ANSWER: B. 30 mL
To calculate the required volume, use the formula (Desired / Have) × Volume. The desired
dose is 20 mEq and the available concentration is 10 mEq per 15 mL. Dividing 20 mEq by 10
mEq yields 2, and multiplying by 15 mL results in 30 mL. Options A, C, and D are incorrect
because they reflect mathematical miscalculations based on incorrect conversion ratios.
2. An adult client with a heart failure exacerbation is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV
push. The medication vial is labeled furosemide 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should
the nurse prepare for this injection?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 8 mL
D. 10 mL
ANSWER: B. 4 mL
Using the dosage calculation formula, divide the desired dose of 40 mg by the available
concentration of 10 mg/mL, resulting in 4 mL. Options A, C, and D represent mathematical
errors in division.
,3. A client weighing 176 lb is prescribed a continuous infusion of heparin at 18
units/kg/hour. The pharmacy provides an IV bag of heparin sodium 25,000 units in 500 mL
D5W. At what rate in mL/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump? (Round to
the nearest whole number)
A. 24 mL/hour
B. 29 mL/hour
C. 36 mL/hour
D. 48 mL/hour
ANSWER: B. 29 mL/hour
First, convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms by dividing 176 by 2.2, which
equals 80 kg. Next, calculate the hourly dose: 80 kg × 18 units/kg/hour = 1,440 units/hour.
Then, calculate the concentration of the IV solution: 25,000 units / 500 mL = 50 units/mL.
Finally, divide the hourly dose by the concentration: 1,440 units/hour / 50 units/mL = 28.8
mL/hour, which rounds to 29 mL/hour. Options A, C, and D are incorrect due to conversion
or calculation errors.
4. A pediatric client weighing 44 lb is prescribed amoxicillin 25 mg/kg/day divided into two
equal doses every 12 hours. The pharmacy supplies amoxicillin suspension 250 mg/5 mL.
How many milliliters should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 5 mL
D. 10 mL
ANSWER: B. 4 mL
Convert the weight from pounds to kilograms: 44 lb / 2.2 = 20 kg. Calculate the total daily
dose: 20 kg × 25 mg/kg/day = 500 mg/day. Calculate the single dose by dividing by 2: 500 mg /
2 = 250 mg per dose. Calculate the volume using the supply concentration: (250 mg / 250 mg)
× 5 mL = 5 mL. Wait, let's re-verify: 250 mg divided by 250 mg is 1, times 5 is 5 mL. Let's
check Option C. Option C is 5 mL. Therefore, Option C is the ANSWER.
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
,C. 5 mL
D. 10 mL
ANSWER: C. 5 mL
Converting 44 lb to kg gives 20 kg. Multiplying by 25 mg/kg/day yields a total daily dose of 500
mg. Dividing by 2 doses gives 250 mg per dose. Using the available concentration of 250 mg/5
mL, the required volume is 5 mL. Options A, B, and D reflect arithmetic errors.
5. A healthcare provider orders normal saline 1,000 mL IV to infuse over 8 hours. The
drop factor of the manual tubing is 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in drops per minute?
(Round to the nearest whole number)
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 63 gtt/min
ANSWER: B. 31 gtt/min
To find the manual drip rate, multiply the total volume in milliliters by the drop factor, then
divide by the total time in minutes. Volume = 1,000 mL, drop factor = 15 gtt/mL, time = 480
minutes (8 hours × 60 minutes). Calculation: (1000 × 15) / 480 = 15, = 31.25 gtt/min,
which rounds to 31 gtt/min. Options A, C, and D are incorrect calculations.
6. A client is prescribed digoxin 0.25 mg PO daily. The medication is available as 0.125 mg
tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 1.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
ANSWER: D. 2 tablets
Using the formula (Desired / Have), divide 0.25 mg by 0.125 mg, which equals 2 tablets.
Options A, B, and C underestimate the required dose.
, 7. An infant weighing 22 lb is prescribed acetaminophen 15 mg/kg PO every 4 to 6 hours
PRN for fever. The suspension is available in a concentration of 160 mg/5 mL. How many
milliliters should the nurse administer for a single dose?
A. 1.5 mL
B. 2.5 mL
C. 3.1 mL
D. 4.6 mL
ANSWER: C. 3.1 mL
Convert the infant's weight to kilograms: 22 lb / 2.2 = 10 kg. Calculate the single dose: 10 kg ×
15 mg/kg = 150 mg. Calculate the volume: (150 mg / 160 mg) × 5 mL = = 4.68 mL?
Wait, let's recalculate: = 0.9375; 0.9375 × 5 = 4.6875 mL, which rounds to 4.7 mL.
Let's check Option D.
A. 1.5 mL
B. 2.5 mL
C. 3.1 mL
D. 4.7 mL
ANSWER: D. 4.7 mL
First, convert 22 lb to kg by dividing by 2.2, giving 10 kg. Multiply 10 kg by 15 mg/kg to find
the dose of 150 mg. Using the concentration of 160 mg/5 mL, divide 150 by 160 and multiply
by 5 to get 4.6875 mL, which rounds to 4.7 mL. Options A, B, and C are incorrect.
8. A client is receiving a continuous IV infusion of regular insulin at 6 units/hour. The IV
bag contains regular insulin 100 units in 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. What is the
hourly infusion pump rate?
A. 3 mL/hour
B. 6 mL/hour
C. 12 mL/hour
D. 60 mL/hour
ANSWER: B. 6 mL/hour
ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE |
EXAM PREP | STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE TEST| DOWNLOAD
INSTANT PDF
1. A healthcare provider orders potassium chloride 20 mEq PO dissolved in 4 oz of juice
twice daily. The pharmacy supplies potassium chloride liquid 10 mEq/15 mL. How many
milliliters should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 15 mL
B. 30 mL
C. 45 mL
D. 60 mL
ANSWER: B. 30 mL
To calculate the required volume, use the formula (Desired / Have) × Volume. The desired
dose is 20 mEq and the available concentration is 10 mEq per 15 mL. Dividing 20 mEq by 10
mEq yields 2, and multiplying by 15 mL results in 30 mL. Options A, C, and D are incorrect
because they reflect mathematical miscalculations based on incorrect conversion ratios.
2. An adult client with a heart failure exacerbation is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV
push. The medication vial is labeled furosemide 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should
the nurse prepare for this injection?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 8 mL
D. 10 mL
ANSWER: B. 4 mL
Using the dosage calculation formula, divide the desired dose of 40 mg by the available
concentration of 10 mg/mL, resulting in 4 mL. Options A, C, and D represent mathematical
errors in division.
,3. A client weighing 176 lb is prescribed a continuous infusion of heparin at 18
units/kg/hour. The pharmacy provides an IV bag of heparin sodium 25,000 units in 500 mL
D5W. At what rate in mL/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump? (Round to
the nearest whole number)
A. 24 mL/hour
B. 29 mL/hour
C. 36 mL/hour
D. 48 mL/hour
ANSWER: B. 29 mL/hour
First, convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms by dividing 176 by 2.2, which
equals 80 kg. Next, calculate the hourly dose: 80 kg × 18 units/kg/hour = 1,440 units/hour.
Then, calculate the concentration of the IV solution: 25,000 units / 500 mL = 50 units/mL.
Finally, divide the hourly dose by the concentration: 1,440 units/hour / 50 units/mL = 28.8
mL/hour, which rounds to 29 mL/hour. Options A, C, and D are incorrect due to conversion
or calculation errors.
4. A pediatric client weighing 44 lb is prescribed amoxicillin 25 mg/kg/day divided into two
equal doses every 12 hours. The pharmacy supplies amoxicillin suspension 250 mg/5 mL.
How many milliliters should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 5 mL
D. 10 mL
ANSWER: B. 4 mL
Convert the weight from pounds to kilograms: 44 lb / 2.2 = 20 kg. Calculate the total daily
dose: 20 kg × 25 mg/kg/day = 500 mg/day. Calculate the single dose by dividing by 2: 500 mg /
2 = 250 mg per dose. Calculate the volume using the supply concentration: (250 mg / 250 mg)
× 5 mL = 5 mL. Wait, let's re-verify: 250 mg divided by 250 mg is 1, times 5 is 5 mL. Let's
check Option C. Option C is 5 mL. Therefore, Option C is the ANSWER.
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
,C. 5 mL
D. 10 mL
ANSWER: C. 5 mL
Converting 44 lb to kg gives 20 kg. Multiplying by 25 mg/kg/day yields a total daily dose of 500
mg. Dividing by 2 doses gives 250 mg per dose. Using the available concentration of 250 mg/5
mL, the required volume is 5 mL. Options A, B, and D reflect arithmetic errors.
5. A healthcare provider orders normal saline 1,000 mL IV to infuse over 8 hours. The
drop factor of the manual tubing is 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in drops per minute?
(Round to the nearest whole number)
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 63 gtt/min
ANSWER: B. 31 gtt/min
To find the manual drip rate, multiply the total volume in milliliters by the drop factor, then
divide by the total time in minutes. Volume = 1,000 mL, drop factor = 15 gtt/mL, time = 480
minutes (8 hours × 60 minutes). Calculation: (1000 × 15) / 480 = 15, = 31.25 gtt/min,
which rounds to 31 gtt/min. Options A, C, and D are incorrect calculations.
6. A client is prescribed digoxin 0.25 mg PO daily. The medication is available as 0.125 mg
tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 1.5 tablets
D. 2 tablets
ANSWER: D. 2 tablets
Using the formula (Desired / Have), divide 0.25 mg by 0.125 mg, which equals 2 tablets.
Options A, B, and C underestimate the required dose.
, 7. An infant weighing 22 lb is prescribed acetaminophen 15 mg/kg PO every 4 to 6 hours
PRN for fever. The suspension is available in a concentration of 160 mg/5 mL. How many
milliliters should the nurse administer for a single dose?
A. 1.5 mL
B. 2.5 mL
C. 3.1 mL
D. 4.6 mL
ANSWER: C. 3.1 mL
Convert the infant's weight to kilograms: 22 lb / 2.2 = 10 kg. Calculate the single dose: 10 kg ×
15 mg/kg = 150 mg. Calculate the volume: (150 mg / 160 mg) × 5 mL = = 4.68 mL?
Wait, let's recalculate: = 0.9375; 0.9375 × 5 = 4.6875 mL, which rounds to 4.7 mL.
Let's check Option D.
A. 1.5 mL
B. 2.5 mL
C. 3.1 mL
D. 4.7 mL
ANSWER: D. 4.7 mL
First, convert 22 lb to kg by dividing by 2.2, giving 10 kg. Multiply 10 kg by 15 mg/kg to find
the dose of 150 mg. Using the concentration of 160 mg/5 mL, divide 150 by 160 and multiply
by 5 to get 4.6875 mL, which rounds to 4.7 mL. Options A, B, and C are incorrect.
8. A client is receiving a continuous IV infusion of regular insulin at 6 units/hour. The IV
bag contains regular insulin 100 units in 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. What is the
hourly infusion pump rate?
A. 3 mL/hour
B. 6 mL/hour
C. 12 mL/hour
D. 60 mL/hour
ANSWER: B. 6 mL/hour
