NURS130 Dosage Calculation for Nurses Nursing & Healthcare Practice Exam
Study Guide Updated 2026 | Verified Questions and Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Medication Dosage Calculations, Unit Conversions (mg, g, mL), IV Flow
Rate Calculations, Drip Rate and Infusion Calculations, Pediatric and Adult Dosage,
Safe Medication Administration, Dimensional Analysis Method, Ratio and Proportion
Method, Drug Label Interpretation, NCLEX-Style Calculation Questions | Complete
Exam Prep Resource for Nursing and Healthcare Students Success
Question 1: A nurse is preparing to administer 500 mg of amoxicillin. The available
suspension is labeled 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse
administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 12.5 mL
D. 10 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 10 mL
Rationale: To calculate the required volume, use the formula: (Desired dose / Available
dose) × Volume = (500 mg / 250 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL.
Question 2: A patient is prescribed 0.5 g of cefazolin IV. The vial contains 1 g of
powder that must be reconstituted with 2.5 mL of sterile water to yield a
concentration of 330 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse draw up?
A. 0.75 mL
B. 1.5 mL
C. 2.0 mL
D. 3.0 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1.5 mL
Rationale: First, convert 0.5 g to 500 mg. Then divide by the concentration: 500 mg ÷ 330
mg/mL ≈ 1.52 mL, which rounds to 1.5 mL for clinical practice.
Question 3: A child weighing 22 kg is prescribed acetaminophen at 15 mg/kg per
dose. The available liquid is 160 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should be
administered per dose?
A. 8.5 mL
B. 9.0 mL
C. 10.3 mL
D. 11.5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 10.3 mL
Rationale: Total dose = 22 kg × 15 mg/kg = 330 mg. Volume = (330 mg / 160 mg) × 5 mL ≈
10.3 mL.
,Question 4: A patient is ordered 2 L of IV fluid to infuse over 16 hours. What is the
infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 110 mL/hr
C. 125 mL/hr
D. 150 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 125 mL/hr
Rationale: Convert liters to milliliters: 2 L = 2000 mL. Divide by time: 2000 mL ÷ 16 hr =
125 mL/hr.
Question 5: A heparin drip is ordered at 18 units/kg/hr for a patient weighing 70 kg.
The IV bag contains 25,000 units in 500 mL of D5W. What is the infusion rate in
mL/hr?
A. 22 mL/hr
B. 25.2 mL/hr
C. 28 mL/hr
D. 30 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 25.2 mL/hr
Rationale: Total units/hr = 18 units/kg/hr × 70 kg = 1260 units/hr. Concentration = 25,000
units / 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Rate = 1260 ÷ 50 = 25.2 mL/hr.
Question 6: A patient is to receive 40 mEq of potassium chloride IV over 4 hours.
The pharmacy supplies a 1000 mL bag containing 40 mEq. What is the infusion rate
in mL/hr?
A. 200 mL/hr
B. 250 mL/hr
C. 300 mL/hr
D. 400 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 250 mL/hr
Rationale: Total volume = 1000 mL over 4 hours → 1000 ÷ 4 = 250 mL/hr.
Question 7: A medication order reads: “Give digoxin 0.125 mg IV now.” The available
vial is labeled 0.25 mg/1 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 0.25 mL
B. 0.5 mL
C. 0.75 mL
D. 1.0 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 0.5 mL
Rationale: Use proportion: (0.125 mg / 0.25 mg) × 1 mL = 0.5 mL.
, Question 8: A patient is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV. The available
concentration is 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should be given?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 6 mL
D. 8 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4 mL
Rationale: Volume = Desired dose / Concentration = 40 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 4 mL.
Question 9: An IV antibiotic is to be infused over 30 minutes. The total volume is 100
mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 150 mL/hr
C. 200 mL/hr
D. 250 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 200 mL/hr
Rationale: Since 30 minutes = 0.5 hour, rate = 100 mL ÷ 0.5 hr = 200 mL/hr.
Question 10: A patient is ordered dopamine at 5 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 80
kg. The IV solution contains 400 mg in 250 mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 12 mL/hr
B. 15 mL/hr
C. 18 mL/hr
D. 20 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 15 mL/hr
Rationale: Total dose/min = 5 mcg/kg/min × 80 kg = 400 mcg/min = 24,000 mcg/hr.
Convert drug: 400 mg = 400,000 mcg in 250 mL → 1600 mcg/mL. Rate = 24,000 ÷ 1600 =
15 mL/hr.
Question 11: A child is prescribed ibuprofen 10 mg/kg/dose every 6 hours. The child
weighs 18 kg. The available suspension is 100 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters per
dose?
A. 7 mL
B. 9 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 12 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 9 mL
Rationale: Dose = 10 mg/kg × 18 kg = 180 mg. Volume = (180 mg / 100 mg) × 5 mL = 9
mL.
Study Guide Updated 2026 | Verified Questions and Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Medication Dosage Calculations, Unit Conversions (mg, g, mL), IV Flow
Rate Calculations, Drip Rate and Infusion Calculations, Pediatric and Adult Dosage,
Safe Medication Administration, Dimensional Analysis Method, Ratio and Proportion
Method, Drug Label Interpretation, NCLEX-Style Calculation Questions | Complete
Exam Prep Resource for Nursing and Healthcare Students Success
Question 1: A nurse is preparing to administer 500 mg of amoxicillin. The available
suspension is labeled 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse
administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 12.5 mL
D. 10 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 10 mL
Rationale: To calculate the required volume, use the formula: (Desired dose / Available
dose) × Volume = (500 mg / 250 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL.
Question 2: A patient is prescribed 0.5 g of cefazolin IV. The vial contains 1 g of
powder that must be reconstituted with 2.5 mL of sterile water to yield a
concentration of 330 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse draw up?
A. 0.75 mL
B. 1.5 mL
C. 2.0 mL
D. 3.0 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1.5 mL
Rationale: First, convert 0.5 g to 500 mg. Then divide by the concentration: 500 mg ÷ 330
mg/mL ≈ 1.52 mL, which rounds to 1.5 mL for clinical practice.
Question 3: A child weighing 22 kg is prescribed acetaminophen at 15 mg/kg per
dose. The available liquid is 160 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should be
administered per dose?
A. 8.5 mL
B. 9.0 mL
C. 10.3 mL
D. 11.5 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 10.3 mL
Rationale: Total dose = 22 kg × 15 mg/kg = 330 mg. Volume = (330 mg / 160 mg) × 5 mL ≈
10.3 mL.
,Question 4: A patient is ordered 2 L of IV fluid to infuse over 16 hours. What is the
infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 110 mL/hr
C. 125 mL/hr
D. 150 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 125 mL/hr
Rationale: Convert liters to milliliters: 2 L = 2000 mL. Divide by time: 2000 mL ÷ 16 hr =
125 mL/hr.
Question 5: A heparin drip is ordered at 18 units/kg/hr for a patient weighing 70 kg.
The IV bag contains 25,000 units in 500 mL of D5W. What is the infusion rate in
mL/hr?
A. 22 mL/hr
B. 25.2 mL/hr
C. 28 mL/hr
D. 30 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 25.2 mL/hr
Rationale: Total units/hr = 18 units/kg/hr × 70 kg = 1260 units/hr. Concentration = 25,000
units / 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Rate = 1260 ÷ 50 = 25.2 mL/hr.
Question 6: A patient is to receive 40 mEq of potassium chloride IV over 4 hours.
The pharmacy supplies a 1000 mL bag containing 40 mEq. What is the infusion rate
in mL/hr?
A. 200 mL/hr
B. 250 mL/hr
C. 300 mL/hr
D. 400 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 250 mL/hr
Rationale: Total volume = 1000 mL over 4 hours → 1000 ÷ 4 = 250 mL/hr.
Question 7: A medication order reads: “Give digoxin 0.125 mg IV now.” The available
vial is labeled 0.25 mg/1 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 0.25 mL
B. 0.5 mL
C. 0.75 mL
D. 1.0 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 0.5 mL
Rationale: Use proportion: (0.125 mg / 0.25 mg) × 1 mL = 0.5 mL.
, Question 8: A patient is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV. The available
concentration is 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should be given?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 6 mL
D. 8 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4 mL
Rationale: Volume = Desired dose / Concentration = 40 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 4 mL.
Question 9: An IV antibiotic is to be infused over 30 minutes. The total volume is 100
mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 150 mL/hr
C. 200 mL/hr
D. 250 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 200 mL/hr
Rationale: Since 30 minutes = 0.5 hour, rate = 100 mL ÷ 0.5 hr = 200 mL/hr.
Question 10: A patient is ordered dopamine at 5 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 80
kg. The IV solution contains 400 mg in 250 mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 12 mL/hr
B. 15 mL/hr
C. 18 mL/hr
D. 20 mL/hr
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 15 mL/hr
Rationale: Total dose/min = 5 mcg/kg/min × 80 kg = 400 mcg/min = 24,000 mcg/hr.
Convert drug: 400 mg = 400,000 mcg in 250 mL → 1600 mcg/mL. Rate = 24,000 ÷ 1600 =
15 mL/hr.
Question 11: A child is prescribed ibuprofen 10 mg/kg/dose every 6 hours. The child
weighs 18 kg. The available suspension is 100 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters per
dose?
A. 7 mL
B. 9 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 12 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 9 mL
Rationale: Dose = 10 mg/kg × 18 kg = 180 mg. Volume = (180 mg / 100 mg) × 5 mL = 9
mL.
