HESI DOSAGE CALCULATIONS PRACTICE
EXAM AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
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 Answers -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.
A child who weighs 55 pounds receives a prescription for atovaquone with
proguanil (Malarone Pediatric) 125 mg/50 mg PO daily. A drug reference
states that children 11 to 20 kg should receive 1 pediatric tablet daily; 21 to
30 kg should receive 2 pediatric tablets daily; 31 to 40 kg should receive 3
pediatric tablets daily; and greater than 40 kg should receive 1 adult tablet
daily with food. The drug is available as atovaquone 62.5 mg/proguanil 25
mg pediatric tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? -
CorreCt Answers -2
Calculate each drug component dose, using the formula, D/H 125 mg / 62.5
mg (atovaquone) = 2 combined with 50 mg / 25 mg (proguanil) = 2. The
child should receive 2 tablets.
, 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 Answers -2
Using the formula, D/H 500 mg/250 mg = 2 tablets
A child who is scheduled for a kidney transplant receives a prescription for
basiliximab (Simulect) 20 mg IV 2 hours prior to surgery. The medication is
available in a 20 mg vial that is reconstituted by adding 5 ml sterile water
for injection, and administered in a 50 ml bag of normal saline over 30
minutes. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many
ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. - CorreCt Answers -110
After reconstituting the medication vial, the nurse adds the 5 ml of
medication to the 50 ml of sterile water to result in a 55 ml volume to infuse
in 30 minutes. Using the formula, Volume/Time = 55 ml / 0.5 hours = 110
ml/hour
A client with a gastrostomy tube (GT) receives a prescription for Osmolite®
1/2 strength enteral formula at 80 ml/hour. To prepare a 4 hour solution,
the nurse should dilute the full-strength formula with how many ml of
water? (Enter numeric value only.) - CorreCt Answers -160
Determine the total volume needed at 80 ml/hour x 4 hours = 320 ml. Use
the formula, Desired strength/strength on Hand x Volume = 50/100 x 320
= 160 ml of Osmolite® enteral formula, which must be diluted to half
strength. Or use ratio and proportion, Desired strength (1/2 = 1 part : 2
parts) :: Volume of full strength : Total Desire volume 1 : 2 :: X : 320 ml 2X
= 320, and X = 160 ml of Osmolite® enteral formula, full strength 320 ml
EXAM AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
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 Answers -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.
A child who weighs 55 pounds receives a prescription for atovaquone with
proguanil (Malarone Pediatric) 125 mg/50 mg PO daily. A drug reference
states that children 11 to 20 kg should receive 1 pediatric tablet daily; 21 to
30 kg should receive 2 pediatric tablets daily; 31 to 40 kg should receive 3
pediatric tablets daily; and greater than 40 kg should receive 1 adult tablet
daily with food. The drug is available as atovaquone 62.5 mg/proguanil 25
mg pediatric tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? -
CorreCt Answers -2
Calculate each drug component dose, using the formula, D/H 125 mg / 62.5
mg (atovaquone) = 2 combined with 50 mg / 25 mg (proguanil) = 2. The
child should receive 2 tablets.
, 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 Answers -2
Using the formula, D/H 500 mg/250 mg = 2 tablets
A child who is scheduled for a kidney transplant receives a prescription for
basiliximab (Simulect) 20 mg IV 2 hours prior to surgery. The medication is
available in a 20 mg vial that is reconstituted by adding 5 ml sterile water
for injection, and administered in a 50 ml bag of normal saline over 30
minutes. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many
ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. - CorreCt Answers -110
After reconstituting the medication vial, the nurse adds the 5 ml of
medication to the 50 ml of sterile water to result in a 55 ml volume to infuse
in 30 minutes. Using the formula, Volume/Time = 55 ml / 0.5 hours = 110
ml/hour
A client with a gastrostomy tube (GT) receives a prescription for Osmolite®
1/2 strength enteral formula at 80 ml/hour. To prepare a 4 hour solution,
the nurse should dilute the full-strength formula with how many ml of
water? (Enter numeric value only.) - CorreCt Answers -160
Determine the total volume needed at 80 ml/hour x 4 hours = 320 ml. Use
the formula, Desired strength/strength on Hand x Volume = 50/100 x 320
= 160 ml of Osmolite® enteral formula, which must be diluted to half
strength. Or use ratio and proportion, Desired strength (1/2 = 1 part : 2
parts) :: Volume of full strength : Total Desire volume 1 : 2 :: X : 320 ml 2X
= 320, and X = 160 ml of Osmolite® enteral formula, full strength 320 ml
