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Dosage calculations RN Ati adult
medical surgical proctored
assessment 3 & 3.1|75
Questions
A nurse is reviewing medications prescribed for a client. For which of the following
prescriptions should the nurse contact the provider for clarification?
A. Fentanyl 25 mcg/hr transdermal patch 87% Most selected
B. Meloxicam 15 mg PO daily 6%
C. Regular insulin 8 units subcutaneous before meals 4%
D. Docusate sodium 200 mg PO at bedtime 1%
Answer and Explanation
Choice A:
Fentanyl 25 mcg/hr transdermal patch:Fentanyl is a potent opioid used for pain
management.The specific concern here is the dosage of 25 mcg/hr. This is a potent
dose, and any questions or uncertainties about the appropriateness of this dosage for
the specific patient should be clarified with the prescribing provider. Dosages of opioids,
especially potent ones like fentanyl, need to be carefully considered to prevent adverse
effects, including respiratory depression.
Choice B:
Meloxicam 15 mg PO daily:Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
used for pain and inflammation.
This prescription is straightforward and commonly used. It is a standard dosage for
meloxicam. However, the nurse should still ensure that the patient does not have any
contraindications or allergies to NSAIDs.
Choice C:
Regular insulin 8 units subcutaneous before meals:Regular insulin is a short-acting
insulin used for controlling blood sugar levels.The prescription indicates a specific
dosage (8 units) to be administered before meals. This is a common and acceptable
prescription for many patients with diabetes. However, the nurse should verify that this
,dosage aligns with the patient's individualized insulin needs, which may vary based on
factors such as blood glucose levels and individual response to insulin.
Choice D:
Docusate sodium 200 mg PO at bedtime:Docusate sodium is a stool softener used to
prevent or treat constipation.This prescription is a standard and commonly used dosage
for docusate sodium. However, as with any medication, the nurse should assess the
patient's specific needs and medical history, ensuring that there are no contraindications
or allergies to this medication.
1. A nurse is preparing to administer tobramycin 3 mg/kg/day IM in three divided
doses to a client who weighs 85 kg. The amount available is tobramycin 40 mg/mL.
How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the
nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer and Explanation
Correct Answer: 2.1ml mL
Explanation
To calculate the dosage of tobramycin for a client who weighs 85 kg, the nurse should
first determine the total daily dose by multiplying the weight by the prescribed dose per
kg.
This gives 3 mg/kg/day x 85 kg = 255 mg/day.
Next, the nurse should divide the total daily dose by the number of doses per day to get
the dose per administration.
This gives 255 mg/day / 3 doses/day = 85 mg/dose.
Finally, the nurse should use the formula D/H x Q to find the volume to be administered,
where D is the desired dose, H is the dose on hand, and Q is the quantity on hand.
This gives 85 mg/dose / 40 mg/mL x 1 mL = 2.125 mL/dose.
Therefore, the nurse should administer 2.1 mL of tobramycin per dose to the client.
, 1. A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 1 g intermittent IV bolus in 0.9% sodium
chloride 250 mL over 30 min. The drop factor on the manual IV tubing is 10 gtt/mL.
The nurse should set the manual IV flow rate to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round
the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a
trailing zero.)
Answer and Explanation
Correct Answer: 83gtt/min
Explanation
To calculate the manual IV flow rate, the nurse needs to use the following formula:
Flow rate (gtt/min) = Volume (mL) x Drop factor (gtt/mL) / Time (min)
Plugging in the given values, we get:
Flow rate (gtt/min) = 250 mL x 10 gtt/mL / 30 min
Flow rate (gtt/min) = 2500 gtt / 30 min
Flow rate (gtt/min) = 83.33 gtt/min
The nurse should set the manual IV flow rate to deliver 83 gtt/min.
, 1. A nurse is preparing to administer fentanyl 0.5 mcg/kg via IV bolus to a client who
weighs 187 lb. Available is fentanyl 50 mcg/mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies.
Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer and Explanation
Correct Answer: 0.9ml mL
Explanation
To calculate the dose of fentanyl for a client who weighs 187 lb, the nurse needs to
convert the weight to kilograms and multiply it by the prescribed dose of 0.5 mcg/kg.
One kilogram is equal to 2.2 lb, so the client's weight in kilograms is .2 = 85 kg.
The dose of fentanyl in micrograms is 85 x 0.5 = 42.5 mcg.
The nurse then needs to divide the dose in micrograms by the concentration of fentanyl
in the available solution, which is 50 mcg/mL.
The volume of fentanyl in milliliters is 42. = 0.85 mL.
The nurse should round the answer to the nearest tenth, so the final answer is 0.9 mL.
The nurse should administer 0.9 mL of fentanyl via IV bolus to the client.
A nurse is preparing to administer lisinopril 2.5 mg PO to an older adult client. Available is
lisinopril 5 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Round the
answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer and Explanation
Correct Answer: 0.5 tablets tablets
Explanation
Dosage calculations RN Ati adult
medical surgical proctored
assessment 3 & 3.1|75
Questions
A nurse is reviewing medications prescribed for a client. For which of the following
prescriptions should the nurse contact the provider for clarification?
A. Fentanyl 25 mcg/hr transdermal patch 87% Most selected
B. Meloxicam 15 mg PO daily 6%
C. Regular insulin 8 units subcutaneous before meals 4%
D. Docusate sodium 200 mg PO at bedtime 1%
Answer and Explanation
Choice A:
Fentanyl 25 mcg/hr transdermal patch:Fentanyl is a potent opioid used for pain
management.The specific concern here is the dosage of 25 mcg/hr. This is a potent
dose, and any questions or uncertainties about the appropriateness of this dosage for
the specific patient should be clarified with the prescribing provider. Dosages of opioids,
especially potent ones like fentanyl, need to be carefully considered to prevent adverse
effects, including respiratory depression.
Choice B:
Meloxicam 15 mg PO daily:Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
used for pain and inflammation.
This prescription is straightforward and commonly used. It is a standard dosage for
meloxicam. However, the nurse should still ensure that the patient does not have any
contraindications or allergies to NSAIDs.
Choice C:
Regular insulin 8 units subcutaneous before meals:Regular insulin is a short-acting
insulin used for controlling blood sugar levels.The prescription indicates a specific
dosage (8 units) to be administered before meals. This is a common and acceptable
prescription for many patients with diabetes. However, the nurse should verify that this
,dosage aligns with the patient's individualized insulin needs, which may vary based on
factors such as blood glucose levels and individual response to insulin.
Choice D:
Docusate sodium 200 mg PO at bedtime:Docusate sodium is a stool softener used to
prevent or treat constipation.This prescription is a standard and commonly used dosage
for docusate sodium. However, as with any medication, the nurse should assess the
patient's specific needs and medical history, ensuring that there are no contraindications
or allergies to this medication.
1. A nurse is preparing to administer tobramycin 3 mg/kg/day IM in three divided
doses to a client who weighs 85 kg. The amount available is tobramycin 40 mg/mL.
How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the
nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer and Explanation
Correct Answer: 2.1ml mL
Explanation
To calculate the dosage of tobramycin for a client who weighs 85 kg, the nurse should
first determine the total daily dose by multiplying the weight by the prescribed dose per
kg.
This gives 3 mg/kg/day x 85 kg = 255 mg/day.
Next, the nurse should divide the total daily dose by the number of doses per day to get
the dose per administration.
This gives 255 mg/day / 3 doses/day = 85 mg/dose.
Finally, the nurse should use the formula D/H x Q to find the volume to be administered,
where D is the desired dose, H is the dose on hand, and Q is the quantity on hand.
This gives 85 mg/dose / 40 mg/mL x 1 mL = 2.125 mL/dose.
Therefore, the nurse should administer 2.1 mL of tobramycin per dose to the client.
, 1. A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 1 g intermittent IV bolus in 0.9% sodium
chloride 250 mL over 30 min. The drop factor on the manual IV tubing is 10 gtt/mL.
The nurse should set the manual IV flow rate to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round
the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a
trailing zero.)
Answer and Explanation
Correct Answer: 83gtt/min
Explanation
To calculate the manual IV flow rate, the nurse needs to use the following formula:
Flow rate (gtt/min) = Volume (mL) x Drop factor (gtt/mL) / Time (min)
Plugging in the given values, we get:
Flow rate (gtt/min) = 250 mL x 10 gtt/mL / 30 min
Flow rate (gtt/min) = 2500 gtt / 30 min
Flow rate (gtt/min) = 83.33 gtt/min
The nurse should set the manual IV flow rate to deliver 83 gtt/min.
, 1. A nurse is preparing to administer fentanyl 0.5 mcg/kg via IV bolus to a client who
weighs 187 lb. Available is fentanyl 50 mcg/mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies.
Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer and Explanation
Correct Answer: 0.9ml mL
Explanation
To calculate the dose of fentanyl for a client who weighs 187 lb, the nurse needs to
convert the weight to kilograms and multiply it by the prescribed dose of 0.5 mcg/kg.
One kilogram is equal to 2.2 lb, so the client's weight in kilograms is .2 = 85 kg.
The dose of fentanyl in micrograms is 85 x 0.5 = 42.5 mcg.
The nurse then needs to divide the dose in micrograms by the concentration of fentanyl
in the available solution, which is 50 mcg/mL.
The volume of fentanyl in milliliters is 42. = 0.85 mL.
The nurse should round the answer to the nearest tenth, so the final answer is 0.9 mL.
The nurse should administer 0.9 mL of fentanyl via IV bolus to the client.
A nurse is preparing to administer lisinopril 2.5 mg PO to an older adult client. Available is
lisinopril 5 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Round the
answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer and Explanation
Correct Answer: 0.5 tablets tablets
Explanation
