Solving Problems Using Dimensional

DOSAGE CALCULATIONS MADE
EASY
SOLVING PROBLEMS USING
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
8TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)GLORIA PEARL
CRAIG




TEST BANK

,Question 1 (Easy – Dimensional Analysis Fundamentals)
A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen 650 mg PO.
The medication is available as 325-mg tablets.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 1.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 3 tablets
Correct Answer: C. 2 tablets
Rationale:
Step 1: Identify the ordered dose.
650 mg
Step 2: Set up dimensional analysis.
[
650\ \text{mg}\times\frac{1\ \text{tablet}}{325\ \text{mg}}
]
Step 3: Cancel units and calculate.
[
650\div325=2
]
Administer 2 tablets.

,Medication Safety Note:
Always compare the prescribed dose with the available strength
before administering oral medications. Verify tablet splitting
only if appropriate for the formulation.


Question 2 (Easy – Metric Conversion)
A provider prescribes 0.75 g of an oral antibiotic.
How many milligrams should the nurse administer?
A. 75 mg
B. 750 mg
C. 7,500 mg
D. 0.075 mg
Correct Answer: B. 750 mg
Rationale:
Step 1: Use the conversion factor.
1 g = 1000 mg
Step 2: Dimensional analysis.
[
0.75\ \text{g}\times\frac{1000\ \text{mg}}{1\ \text{g}}
]

, Step 3: Calculate.
[
0.75\times1000=750\ \text{mg}
]
Medication Safety Note:
Pay careful attention to decimal placement. Confusing grams
with milligrams can result in a 1,000-fold dosing error.


Question 3 (Easy – Oral Liquid Calculation)
A child is prescribed 250 mg of amoxicillin suspension.
The bottle is labeled:
125 mg per 5 mL
How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 12.5 mL
Correct Answer: C. 10 mL
Rationale:
Step 1: Identify the ordered dose.