HESI DOSAGE CALCULATIONS PRACTICE
EXAM, HESI PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW
2026/27| ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
QUALITY VERIFIED ANSWERS [100%
CORRECT] A+ GRADE
QUESTION 1
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 Answer: 11.3
Explanation: 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.
QUESTION 2
A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of
nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in D5W 250 ml at 75 ml/hour. How many
mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer: 3.5
Explanation: Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml 250X =
3750 and X = 15 mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr to mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg /
,1000 mcg = 15,000 mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly,
250 mcg/72.4 kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.
QUESTION 3
A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of 800 mg/500 ml normal
saline at 5 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric
value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer: 1.9
Explanation: To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula: desired rate
(5 ml/hour) / volume available (500 ml) x dose available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour.
Next, convert milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) / 60
minutes = 1.904 = 1.9 mcg/kg/minute.
QUESTION 4
A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline) 250 ml
with amiodarone (Cordarone) 1 gram at 17 ml/hour. How many mg/minute of
amiodarone is infusing? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to
the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer: 1.1
Explanation: Convert grams to mg, 1 gram equals 1,000 mg. Using ratio and
proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml = X mg : 1ml 250X = 1,000 so X = 4 mg/ml is the
solution concentration of amiodarone. The infusion rate (ml/hour) x
concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60 minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x 4 mg/ml = 68/60
= 1.13 = 1.1 mg/minute.
,QUESTION 5
A client who weighs 176 pounds is receiving an IV infusion with esmolol
hydrochloride (Brevibloc) at 48 ml/hour. The IV solution is labeled with the
concentration of Brevibloc 10 mg/ml. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client
receiving? (Enter numeric value only.)
Correct Answer: 100
Explanation: Convert pounds to kg by dividing 176 pounds by 2.2 pounds = 80
kg. Convert the IV concentration from mg to mcg: 1 mg : 1000 mcg = 10 mg :
10,000 mcg. Infusion rate (48 ml/hour) x concentration (10,000 mcg/ml) divided
by 60 minutes/hour x 80 kg = 48 x 10,000 divided by 60 x 80 = 480, =
100 mcg/kg/minute.
QUESTION 6
The nurse is preparing the change-of-shift report for a client who has a 265 ml
secondary infusion that was started 2 hours ago at a rate of 85 ml/hour via an infusion
pump. The nurse should report that how many ml remain to be infused by the on-
coming nurse? (Enter numeric value only.)
Correct Answer: 95
Explanation: 85 ml x 2 hours = 170 ml has infused. 265 ml (total amount to be
infused) - 170 ml (amount infused) = 95 ml remain to be infused.
QUESTION 7
A male client receives a prescription for ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran) 4 mg IV
to prevent postoperative nausea after an inguinal hernia repair. The medication is
available in 2 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric
value only.)
Correct Answer: 2
Explanation: Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml : 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X = 2
, QUESTION 8
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Energix-B) 5
mcg IM to a school-aged child. The vaccine is labeled, 10 mcg/ml. How many ml
should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round
to the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer: 0.5
Explanation: Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml : 10 mcg : 1 ml 10X = 5 X =
0.5 ml
QUESTION 9
A client's daily PO prescription for aripiprazole (Abilify) is increased from 15 mg to
30 mg. The medication is available in 15 mg tablets, and the client already received
one tablet today. How many additional tablets should the nurse administer so the
client receives the total newly prescribed dose for the day? (Enter numeric value only.)
Correct Answer: 1
Explanation: 30 mg (total dose) - 15 mg (dose already administered) = 15 mg that
still needs to be administered. Using the Desired/Have formula: 15 mg/15 mg = 1
tablet
QUESTION 10
At the end of the shift, the nurse is recording the fluid balance for a client receiving a
continuous gastrostomy tube (GT) feeding. Based on the client's records, how many
ml should the nurse record for the total fluid balance (intake - output) for the shift that
started at 0700 and ended at 1900? (Enter numeric value only.)
Correct Answer: 695
Explanation: The tube feeding is administered at 75 ml/hour for 11 hours (0700 -
EXAM, HESI PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW
2026/27| ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
QUALITY VERIFIED ANSWERS [100%
CORRECT] A+ GRADE
QUESTION 1
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 Answer: 11.3
Explanation: 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.
QUESTION 2
A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of
nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in D5W 250 ml at 75 ml/hour. How many
mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer: 3.5
Explanation: Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml 250X =
3750 and X = 15 mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr to mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg /
,1000 mcg = 15,000 mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly,
250 mcg/72.4 kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.
QUESTION 3
A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of 800 mg/500 ml normal
saline at 5 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric
value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer: 1.9
Explanation: To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula: desired rate
(5 ml/hour) / volume available (500 ml) x dose available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour.
Next, convert milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) / 60
minutes = 1.904 = 1.9 mcg/kg/minute.
QUESTION 4
A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline) 250 ml
with amiodarone (Cordarone) 1 gram at 17 ml/hour. How many mg/minute of
amiodarone is infusing? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to
the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer: 1.1
Explanation: Convert grams to mg, 1 gram equals 1,000 mg. Using ratio and
proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml = X mg : 1ml 250X = 1,000 so X = 4 mg/ml is the
solution concentration of amiodarone. The infusion rate (ml/hour) x
concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60 minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x 4 mg/ml = 68/60
= 1.13 = 1.1 mg/minute.
,QUESTION 5
A client who weighs 176 pounds is receiving an IV infusion with esmolol
hydrochloride (Brevibloc) at 48 ml/hour. The IV solution is labeled with the
concentration of Brevibloc 10 mg/ml. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client
receiving? (Enter numeric value only.)
Correct Answer: 100
Explanation: Convert pounds to kg by dividing 176 pounds by 2.2 pounds = 80
kg. Convert the IV concentration from mg to mcg: 1 mg : 1000 mcg = 10 mg :
10,000 mcg. Infusion rate (48 ml/hour) x concentration (10,000 mcg/ml) divided
by 60 minutes/hour x 80 kg = 48 x 10,000 divided by 60 x 80 = 480, =
100 mcg/kg/minute.
QUESTION 6
The nurse is preparing the change-of-shift report for a client who has a 265 ml
secondary infusion that was started 2 hours ago at a rate of 85 ml/hour via an infusion
pump. The nurse should report that how many ml remain to be infused by the on-
coming nurse? (Enter numeric value only.)
Correct Answer: 95
Explanation: 85 ml x 2 hours = 170 ml has infused. 265 ml (total amount to be
infused) - 170 ml (amount infused) = 95 ml remain to be infused.
QUESTION 7
A male client receives a prescription for ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran) 4 mg IV
to prevent postoperative nausea after an inguinal hernia repair. The medication is
available in 2 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric
value only.)
Correct Answer: 2
Explanation: Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml : 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X = 2
, QUESTION 8
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Energix-B) 5
mcg IM to a school-aged child. The vaccine is labeled, 10 mcg/ml. How many ml
should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round
to the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer: 0.5
Explanation: Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml : 10 mcg : 1 ml 10X = 5 X =
0.5 ml
QUESTION 9
A client's daily PO prescription for aripiprazole (Abilify) is increased from 15 mg to
30 mg. The medication is available in 15 mg tablets, and the client already received
one tablet today. How many additional tablets should the nurse administer so the
client receives the total newly prescribed dose for the day? (Enter numeric value only.)
Correct Answer: 1
Explanation: 30 mg (total dose) - 15 mg (dose already administered) = 15 mg that
still needs to be administered. Using the Desired/Have formula: 15 mg/15 mg = 1
tablet
QUESTION 10
At the end of the shift, the nurse is recording the fluid balance for a client receiving a
continuous gastrostomy tube (GT) feeding. Based on the client's records, how many
ml should the nurse record for the total fluid balance (intake - output) for the shift that
started at 0700 and ended at 1900? (Enter numeric value only.)
Correct Answer: 695
Explanation: The tube feeding is administered at 75 ml/hour for 11 hours (0700 -
