HESI DOSAGE CALCULATIONS EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026-2027 | LAT… EXAM
P R O F E S S I O N A L P R A C T I C E M AT E R I A L S
HESI Dosage Calculations
Exam Questions & Answers
2026-2027 | Latest Verified
HESI Exam (Rationales)
Verified Answers Exam Ready With Rationales
50 QUESTIONS
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
This HESI Dosage Calculations Exam resource provides 50 verified questions with correct answers and
detailed rationales, covering essential medication administration concepts. It is suitable for
comprehensive study, thorough review, and direct preparation for HESI certification exams.
CONTENTS
01 Vasoactive & Cardiac Drips Q1–Q8
02 IV Infusion Rates & Calculations Q9–Q22
03 Medication Dosage Calculations Q23–Q37
04 Advanced Dosage Calculations Q38–Q50
Page 1
, E XA M Q U EST I O N S
Q1 QUESTION 1 OF 50
A client with cardiogenic shock weighs 220 lb and is receiving dopamine at the rate of 3 mcg/kg/minute. The
solution strength available is dopamine 400 mg in 250 ml of D5W. The nurse should set the infusion pump to
deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
CORRECT ANSWER
11.3
First, convert pounds to kg, 220 lb : X = 2.2 lb : 1 kg = 100 kg. Next, calculate the dosage per minute, 3
mcg/kg/min x 100 kg = 300 mcg/min. Convert mcg/min to mcg/hour, 300 mcg/min x 60 min=18,000 mcg/hour.
Convert mcg/hr to mg/hour, 18,000 mcg/hr = 18.0 mg/hour. Calculate the rate, 400 mg : 250 ml = 18 mg : X ml
400X = 4500 X = 11.25 = 11.3 ml. So, 18 mg/11.3 ml should be infused at 11.3 ml/hour.
RATIONALE
Accurate calculation of the dopamine infusion rate requires converting patient weight to kilograms, determining the
desired mcg/kg/min dosage, converting this to mg/hour, and then applying the concentration of the available
solution to find the ml/hour delivery rate. This process ensures the patient receives the prescribed hemodynamic
support without exceeding therapeutic limits.
Q2 QUESTION 2 OF 50
A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in
D5W 250 ml at 75 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If
rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
CORRECT ANSWER
3.5
Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml 250X = 3750 and X = 15 mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr
to mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg / 1000 mcg = 15,000 mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly,
250 mcg/72.4 kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.
RATIONALE
5 mcg/kg/minute. This calculation demonstrates the process of converting drug concentration and infusion rate to a
weight-based dosage per minute.
Page 2
, Q3 QUESTION 3 OF 50
A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of 800 mg/500 ml normal saline at 5 ml/hour. How
many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest tenth.)
CORRECT ANSWER
1.9
To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula: desired rate (5 ml/hour) / volume available (500 ml) x
dose available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour. Next, convert milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) /
60 minutes = 1.904 = 1.9 mcg/kg/minute.
RATIONALE
The calculation converts the infusion rate from ml/hour to mg/hour, then to mcg/kg/minute by accounting for the
concentration, patient weight, and time conversion. This process directly determines the precise dosage delivered
per kilogram of body weight per minute.
Q4 QUESTION 4 OF 50
A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline) 250 ml with amiodarone
(Cordarone) 1 gram at 17 ml/hour. How many mg/minute of amiodarone is infusing? (Enter numeric value only.
If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
CORRECT ANSWER
Convert grams to mg, 1 gram equals 1,000 mg. Using ratio and proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml :: X mg : 1ml
250X= 1,000 so X = 4 mg/ml is the solution concentration of amiodarone. The infusion rate (ml/hour) x
concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60 minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x 4 mg/ml = 68/60 = 1.13 = 1.1 mg/minute.
RATIONALE
Calculate the concentration of amiodarone in mg/ml, then multiply by the infusion rate in ml/minute to determine the
mg/minute infusion. This involves dimensional analysis to convert the total drug amount and volume to a per-
milliliter concentration and then to a per-minute rate.
Q5 QUESTION 5 OF 50
Page 3
P R O F E S S I O N A L P R A C T I C E M AT E R I A L S
HESI Dosage Calculations
Exam Questions & Answers
2026-2027 | Latest Verified
HESI Exam (Rationales)
Verified Answers Exam Ready With Rationales
50 QUESTIONS
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
This HESI Dosage Calculations Exam resource provides 50 verified questions with correct answers and
detailed rationales, covering essential medication administration concepts. It is suitable for
comprehensive study, thorough review, and direct preparation for HESI certification exams.
CONTENTS
01 Vasoactive & Cardiac Drips Q1–Q8
02 IV Infusion Rates & Calculations Q9–Q22
03 Medication Dosage Calculations Q23–Q37
04 Advanced Dosage Calculations Q38–Q50
Page 1
, E XA M Q U EST I O N S
Q1 QUESTION 1 OF 50
A client with cardiogenic shock weighs 220 lb and is receiving dopamine at the rate of 3 mcg/kg/minute. The
solution strength available is dopamine 400 mg in 250 ml of D5W. The nurse should set the infusion pump to
deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
CORRECT ANSWER
11.3
First, convert pounds to kg, 220 lb : X = 2.2 lb : 1 kg = 100 kg. Next, calculate the dosage per minute, 3
mcg/kg/min x 100 kg = 300 mcg/min. Convert mcg/min to mcg/hour, 300 mcg/min x 60 min=18,000 mcg/hour.
Convert mcg/hr to mg/hour, 18,000 mcg/hr = 18.0 mg/hour. Calculate the rate, 400 mg : 250 ml = 18 mg : X ml
400X = 4500 X = 11.25 = 11.3 ml. So, 18 mg/11.3 ml should be infused at 11.3 ml/hour.
RATIONALE
Accurate calculation of the dopamine infusion rate requires converting patient weight to kilograms, determining the
desired mcg/kg/min dosage, converting this to mg/hour, and then applying the concentration of the available
solution to find the ml/hour delivery rate. This process ensures the patient receives the prescribed hemodynamic
support without exceeding therapeutic limits.
Q2 QUESTION 2 OF 50
A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in
D5W 250 ml at 75 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If
rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
CORRECT ANSWER
3.5
Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml 250X = 3750 and X = 15 mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr
to mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg / 1000 mcg = 15,000 mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly,
250 mcg/72.4 kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.
RATIONALE
5 mcg/kg/minute. This calculation demonstrates the process of converting drug concentration and infusion rate to a
weight-based dosage per minute.
Page 2
, Q3 QUESTION 3 OF 50
A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of 800 mg/500 ml normal saline at 5 ml/hour. How
many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest tenth.)
CORRECT ANSWER
1.9
To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula: desired rate (5 ml/hour) / volume available (500 ml) x
dose available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour. Next, convert milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) /
60 minutes = 1.904 = 1.9 mcg/kg/minute.
RATIONALE
The calculation converts the infusion rate from ml/hour to mg/hour, then to mcg/kg/minute by accounting for the
concentration, patient weight, and time conversion. This process directly determines the precise dosage delivered
per kilogram of body weight per minute.
Q4 QUESTION 4 OF 50
A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline) 250 ml with amiodarone
(Cordarone) 1 gram at 17 ml/hour. How many mg/minute of amiodarone is infusing? (Enter numeric value only.
If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
CORRECT ANSWER
Convert grams to mg, 1 gram equals 1,000 mg. Using ratio and proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml :: X mg : 1ml
250X= 1,000 so X = 4 mg/ml is the solution concentration of amiodarone. The infusion rate (ml/hour) x
concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60 minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x 4 mg/ml = 68/60 = 1.13 = 1.1 mg/minute.
RATIONALE
Calculate the concentration of amiodarone in mg/ml, then multiply by the infusion rate in ml/minute to determine the
mg/minute infusion. This involves dimensional analysis to convert the total drug amount and volume to a per-
milliliter concentration and then to a per-minute rate.
Q5 QUESTION 5 OF 50
Page 3
