NURS130 Dosage Calculation for Nurses
Practice Exam Study Guide 2026 | Verified
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Medication Dosage, IV Flow
Rate & Drip Rate Calculations Made Easy
NURS130 Dosage Calculation for Nurses — Practice Exam Study Guide 2026
• This study guide contains 200 verified practice questions with detailed
RATIONALE designed to help you master medication dosage, IV flow rate, drip rate,
and all core dosage calculation competencies tested in NURS130.
• Work through each question independently before checking the highlighted
correct answer and RATIONALE below it — this active recall method is the most
effective way to build confidence and accuracy for your exam.
1. A physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin. The available tablets are 250 mg
each. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 3 tablets
C. 4 tablets
D. 0.5 tablet
E. 2 tablets ✓
Correct Answer: E. 2 tablets
RATIONALE: Using the formula: Dose ordered ÷ Dose available = 500 mg ÷ 250
mg = 2 tablets.
2. A patient is ordered 0.25 g of a drug. The available tablets are 125 mg each.
How many tablets are needed?
,A. 1 tablet
B. 3 tablets
C. 2 tablets ✓
D. 0.5 tablet
E. 4 tablets
Correct Answer: C. 2 tablets
RATIONALE: Convert 0.25 g to 250 mg. Then 250 mg ÷ 125 mg = 2 tablets.
3. A nurse must administer 750 mg of a drug available as 250 mg/5 mL. How
many mL should be given?
A. 5 mL
B. 20 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 15 mL ✓
E. 25 mL
Correct Answer: D. 15 mL
RATIONALE: (750 mg ÷ 250 mg) × 5 mL = 3 × 5 = 15 mL.
4. An order reads: give 0.5 mg of drug X. Available: 0.25 mg tablets. How many
tablets should be given?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 3 tablets
C. 4 tablets
D. 2 tablets ✓
E. 1 tablet
, Correct Answer: D. 2 tablets
RATIONALE: 0.5 mg ÷ 0.25 mg = 2 tablets.
5. A physician orders 1000 mL of NS to infuse over 8 hours. What is the flow
rate in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 150 mL/hr
C. 125 mL/hr ✓
D. 200 mL/hr
E. 80 mL/hr
Correct Answer: C. 125 mL/hr
RATIONALE: 1000 mL ÷ 8 hours = 125 mL/hr.
6. A patient is to receive 500 mL of D5W over 4 hours. What is the flow rate in
mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr ✓
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 200 mL/hr
E. 75 mL/hr
Correct Answer: B. 125 mL/hr
RATIONALE: 500 mL ÷ 4 hours = 125 mL/hr.
7. An IV of 250 mL must infuse over 2 hours. The drop factor is 20 gtt/mL. What
is the drip rate?
, A. 20 gtt/min
B. 30 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min ✓
D. 50 gtt/min
E. 60 gtt/min
Correct Answer: C. 42 gtt/min
RATIONALE: (250 mL × 20 gtt/mL) ÷ (2 × 60 min) = 5000 ÷ 120 = 41.67 ≈ 42
gtt/min.
8. A nurse has an order for heparin 5000 units subcutaneously. Available:
10,000 units/mL. How many mL should be given?
A. 1 mL
B. 0.25 mL
C. 0.5 mL ✓
D. 0.75 mL
E. 2 mL
Correct Answer: C. 0.5 mL
RATIONALE: 5000 units ÷ 10,000 units/mL = 0.5 mL.
9. A patient weighing 60 kg is ordered a drug at 2 mg/kg. What is the total
dose?
A. 60 mg
B. 100 mg
C. 120 mg ✓
D. 90 mg
Practice Exam Study Guide 2026 | Verified
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Medication Dosage, IV Flow
Rate & Drip Rate Calculations Made Easy
NURS130 Dosage Calculation for Nurses — Practice Exam Study Guide 2026
• This study guide contains 200 verified practice questions with detailed
RATIONALE designed to help you master medication dosage, IV flow rate, drip rate,
and all core dosage calculation competencies tested in NURS130.
• Work through each question independently before checking the highlighted
correct answer and RATIONALE below it — this active recall method is the most
effective way to build confidence and accuracy for your exam.
1. A physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin. The available tablets are 250 mg
each. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 3 tablets
C. 4 tablets
D. 0.5 tablet
E. 2 tablets ✓
Correct Answer: E. 2 tablets
RATIONALE: Using the formula: Dose ordered ÷ Dose available = 500 mg ÷ 250
mg = 2 tablets.
2. A patient is ordered 0.25 g of a drug. The available tablets are 125 mg each.
How many tablets are needed?
,A. 1 tablet
B. 3 tablets
C. 2 tablets ✓
D. 0.5 tablet
E. 4 tablets
Correct Answer: C. 2 tablets
RATIONALE: Convert 0.25 g to 250 mg. Then 250 mg ÷ 125 mg = 2 tablets.
3. A nurse must administer 750 mg of a drug available as 250 mg/5 mL. How
many mL should be given?
A. 5 mL
B. 20 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 15 mL ✓
E. 25 mL
Correct Answer: D. 15 mL
RATIONALE: (750 mg ÷ 250 mg) × 5 mL = 3 × 5 = 15 mL.
4. An order reads: give 0.5 mg of drug X. Available: 0.25 mg tablets. How many
tablets should be given?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 3 tablets
C. 4 tablets
D. 2 tablets ✓
E. 1 tablet
, Correct Answer: D. 2 tablets
RATIONALE: 0.5 mg ÷ 0.25 mg = 2 tablets.
5. A physician orders 1000 mL of NS to infuse over 8 hours. What is the flow
rate in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 150 mL/hr
C. 125 mL/hr ✓
D. 200 mL/hr
E. 80 mL/hr
Correct Answer: C. 125 mL/hr
RATIONALE: 1000 mL ÷ 8 hours = 125 mL/hr.
6. A patient is to receive 500 mL of D5W over 4 hours. What is the flow rate in
mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr ✓
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 200 mL/hr
E. 75 mL/hr
Correct Answer: B. 125 mL/hr
RATIONALE: 500 mL ÷ 4 hours = 125 mL/hr.
7. An IV of 250 mL must infuse over 2 hours. The drop factor is 20 gtt/mL. What
is the drip rate?
, A. 20 gtt/min
B. 30 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min ✓
D. 50 gtt/min
E. 60 gtt/min
Correct Answer: C. 42 gtt/min
RATIONALE: (250 mL × 20 gtt/mL) ÷ (2 × 60 min) = 5000 ÷ 120 = 41.67 ≈ 42
gtt/min.
8. A nurse has an order for heparin 5000 units subcutaneously. Available:
10,000 units/mL. How many mL should be given?
A. 1 mL
B. 0.25 mL
C. 0.5 mL ✓
D. 0.75 mL
E. 2 mL
Correct Answer: C. 0.5 mL
RATIONALE: 5000 units ÷ 10,000 units/mL = 0.5 mL.
9. A patient weighing 60 kg is ordered a drug at 2 mg/kg. What is the total
dose?
A. 60 mg
B. 100 mg
C. 120 mg ✓
D. 90 mg
