WGU SCHOOL OF NURSING AND CLINICAL SCIENCES|
DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY &
THERAPEUTICS|DOSAGE CALCULATIONS PRACTICE
EXAMINATION – VERSION II (V2) 2026
2025/2026 ACADEMIC YEAR | SEMESTER I/II
COURSE CODE: NUR 216 / PHA 210
COURSE TITLE: Pharmacology / Clinical Nursing Skills
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.)
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 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.)
1|Page
,3.5
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.
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.)
1.9
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.
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.)
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.
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.)
100
2|Page
, 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.
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.)
95
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.
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.)
2
Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X = 2
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).
1 or 0.5
3|Page
DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY &
THERAPEUTICS|DOSAGE CALCULATIONS PRACTICE
EXAMINATION – VERSION II (V2) 2026
2025/2026 ACADEMIC YEAR | SEMESTER I/II
COURSE CODE: NUR 216 / PHA 210
COURSE TITLE: Pharmacology / Clinical Nursing Skills
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.)
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 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.)
1|Page
,3.5
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.
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.)
1.9
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.
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.)
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.
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.)
100
2|Page
, 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.
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.)
95
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.
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.)
2
Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X = 2
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).
1 or 0.5
3|Page
