ATI Dosage Calculation and Safe Medication
Administration 3.0 - Critical Care Medications
Questions and Answers 2025 update
A nurse is preparing to administer dobutamine 2.5 mcg/kg/min by continuous IV infusion to a client who
weighs 65 kg. The amount available is dobutamine 250 mg/250 mL. The nurse should set the IV pump to
deliver how many mL/hour? (Round to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWERS 9.8 mL/hour
Rationale:
1. (0.0025 mg/kg/min) x (65 kg) = 0.1625 mg/min
2. (0.1625 mg/min) x (250 mL/250 mg) x (60 min/1 hour) = 9.75 ml/hour
3. 9.75 mL/hour = 9.8 mL/hour (rounded)
A nurse is preparing to administer nitroprusside 4 mcg/kg/min by continuous IV infusion to a client who
weighs 57 kg. Available is nitroprusside 50 mg in 250 mL D5W. The nurse should set the IV pump to
deliver how many mL/hour? (Round to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWERS 68.4 mL/hour
Rationale:
1. (0.004 mg/kg/min) x (57 kg) = 0.228 mg/min
2. (0.228 mg/min) x (250 mL/50 mg) x (60 min/1 hour) = 68.4 mL/hour
A nurse is preparing to administer 0.9% sodium chloride 300 mL IV over 30 minutes to a client. The
nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hour? - CORRECT ANSWERS 600 mL/hour
Rationale:
1. 300 mL/30 minutes x 60 minutes/1 hour = 600 mL/hour
A nurse is preparing to administer 0.45% sodium chloride 750 mL IV to infuse over 2 hours to a client.
The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hour? - CORRECT ANSWERS 375
mL/hour
, ATI Dosage Calculation and Safe Medication
Administration 3.0 - Critical Care Medications
Questions and Answers 2025 update
Rationale:
1. 750 ml/2 hours = x
2. x = 375 mL/hour
A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride 40 mEq to infuse over 4 hours to a client.
Available is potassium chloride 40 mEq in 100 mL dextrose 5% in 0.45% sodium chloride. The nurse
should set the infusion pump to deliver how many mL/hour? - CORRECT ANSWERS 25 mL/hour
Rationale:
1. 100 mL/4 hours = x
2. x = 25 mL/hour
A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 15 units/kg/hour by continuous IV infusion for a client who
weighs 51 kg. Available is 25,000 units of heparin in 500 mL 0.9% sodium chloride. The nurse should set
the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hour? (Round to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWERS
15.3 mL/hour
Rationale:
1. (15 units/kg/hour) x (51 kg) = 765 units/hour
2. (765 units/hour) x (500 mL/25,000 units) = x
3. x = 15.3 mL/hour
A nurse is preparing to administer amiodarone 0.5 mg/min by continuous IV infusion. Available is
amiodarone 900 mg in 500 mL D5W. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hour?
(Round to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWERS 16.7 mL/hour
Administration 3.0 - Critical Care Medications
Questions and Answers 2025 update
A nurse is preparing to administer dobutamine 2.5 mcg/kg/min by continuous IV infusion to a client who
weighs 65 kg. The amount available is dobutamine 250 mg/250 mL. The nurse should set the IV pump to
deliver how many mL/hour? (Round to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWERS 9.8 mL/hour
Rationale:
1. (0.0025 mg/kg/min) x (65 kg) = 0.1625 mg/min
2. (0.1625 mg/min) x (250 mL/250 mg) x (60 min/1 hour) = 9.75 ml/hour
3. 9.75 mL/hour = 9.8 mL/hour (rounded)
A nurse is preparing to administer nitroprusside 4 mcg/kg/min by continuous IV infusion to a client who
weighs 57 kg. Available is nitroprusside 50 mg in 250 mL D5W. The nurse should set the IV pump to
deliver how many mL/hour? (Round to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWERS 68.4 mL/hour
Rationale:
1. (0.004 mg/kg/min) x (57 kg) = 0.228 mg/min
2. (0.228 mg/min) x (250 mL/50 mg) x (60 min/1 hour) = 68.4 mL/hour
A nurse is preparing to administer 0.9% sodium chloride 300 mL IV over 30 minutes to a client. The
nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hour? - CORRECT ANSWERS 600 mL/hour
Rationale:
1. 300 mL/30 minutes x 60 minutes/1 hour = 600 mL/hour
A nurse is preparing to administer 0.45% sodium chloride 750 mL IV to infuse over 2 hours to a client.
The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hour? - CORRECT ANSWERS 375
mL/hour
, ATI Dosage Calculation and Safe Medication
Administration 3.0 - Critical Care Medications
Questions and Answers 2025 update
Rationale:
1. 750 ml/2 hours = x
2. x = 375 mL/hour
A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride 40 mEq to infuse over 4 hours to a client.
Available is potassium chloride 40 mEq in 100 mL dextrose 5% in 0.45% sodium chloride. The nurse
should set the infusion pump to deliver how many mL/hour? - CORRECT ANSWERS 25 mL/hour
Rationale:
1. 100 mL/4 hours = x
2. x = 25 mL/hour
A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 15 units/kg/hour by continuous IV infusion for a client who
weighs 51 kg. Available is 25,000 units of heparin in 500 mL 0.9% sodium chloride. The nurse should set
the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hour? (Round to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWERS
15.3 mL/hour
Rationale:
1. (15 units/kg/hour) x (51 kg) = 765 units/hour
2. (765 units/hour) x (500 mL/25,000 units) = x
3. x = 15.3 mL/hour
A nurse is preparing to administer amiodarone 0.5 mg/min by continuous IV infusion. Available is
amiodarone 900 mg in 500 mL D5W. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hour?
(Round to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWERS 16.7 mL/hour
