Question

Sample Problems for Basic Dosage Calculation

1. Order: Amoxicillin 0.25 g p.o. every 8 hours. Available: Amoxicillin 125mg tablets.

How many tablets will the nurse give per dose?

2. Order: Zofran 8 mg p.o.t.i.d. Available: Zofran in a 100mL bottle labeled 4 mg/tsp.

How many mL will the nurse administer for each dose?

3. Give Fortaz 50 mg/kg p.o. t.i.d. to a child who weighs 25.5 kg. Fortaz is available in an oral

suspension labeled 100mg/mL. How many mL would the nurse administer per dose?

4. Give Ceclor 45 mg/kg/day p.o. in 3 divided dosesfor a patient who weighs 66 pounds. A 75 mL

stock medication is labeled Ceclor 125mg/mL. How many mLwould the nurse administer per

dose?

5. The doctor ordered Magnesium Sulfate 4gm IV to be given over 20 minutes. Magnesium Sulfate come in 40gm/1000mL IV bottle. You would set your pump at _____mL/hour.

A. 250 mL/hr

B. 300 mL/hr

C. 350 mL/hr

D. 380 mL/hr

6. The doctor ordered Magnesium Sulfate 2gm/ hour IV. Magnesium Sulfate come in 40gm/1000mL IV bottle. You would set your pump at _____mL/hour.

A. 50 mL/hr

B. 60 mL/hr

C. 55 mL/hr

D. 53 mL/hr

7. The physician ordered Ritodrine IV 70mcg/min. The pharmacy sent up Ritodrine 150mg premixed in 500mL D5W. You would set your IV pump at ________mL/hour.

A. 15 mL/hr

B. 16 mL/hr

C. 13 mL/hr

D. 14 mL/hr

8. The physician ordered Ritodrine IV 50 mcg/min. The pharmacy sent up Ritodrine 150 mg premixed in 500mL D5W. You would set your IV pump at ________mL/hour.

A. 9 mL/hr

B. 10 mL/hr

C. 11 mL/hr

D. 12 mL/hr

9. The physician ordered the Pitocin infusion to run at 6 mu/min. The pharmacy sent up 10 units of Pitocin in 500 mL of D5LR. You would set your pump at _____________ mL/hour.

A. 18 mL/hr

B. 19 mL/hr

C. 20 mL/hr

D. 21 mL/hr

10. The medications scheduled for your patient include Keflex 1.5 grams in 50 ml of a 5% Dextrose solution. According to the pharmacy, this preparation should be administered in 30 minutes. You would set your IV pump at __________mL/hour.

A. 100 mL/hr

B. 110 mL/hr

C. 115 mL/hr

D. 120 mL/hr

Answer 1

1. Answer ;

ordered amount ; 0.25 gm per order for every 8 hours
( it can be written as 250 mg )
available amount is 125 mg tablet, but need to provide is 250 mg,
therefore 250 / 125 = 2.

So we need to provide 2 tablet for every 8 hour.

2. Answer ;

ordered dosage is 8 mg
Available is in 100 ml bottle labeled 4 mg / tsp.

So for each dose nurse should give 2 tsp.

3. Answer ;

Ordered amount is 50 mg / kg
Here the child weight is 25.5 kg.
So the nurse should need to provide, 25.5 x 50 = 1275 mg

Available amount is 100 mg per ml,
So for 1275 mg has, 1275 / 100 = 12.75 ml.

Therefore the nurse need to administer 12.75 ml

4. Answer;

The ordered amount is 45 mg / kg/ day
Here the mentioned weight is 66 pounds that 30 kg

So the total amount need to administer is 45 x 30 = 1350 mg / day

Here the available amount is 125 mg / ml
But we need to provide 1350 mg, hence 1350 / 125 = 10.8 ml per day.

Here it is referred as 3 divided dosed, therefore 10.8 / 3 = 3.6

So the nurse need to administer 3.6 ml for three times a day.

5. Answer ; B) 300 ml/ hr

6. Answer ; A) 50 ml /hr