BSN 215 HESI RN Specialty Dosage Calculation
Exam ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 | Dosage
Calculation Review | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
SECTION 1: ORAL MEDICATIONS (Q1–Q10)
Q1: The physician orders amoxicillin 500 mg PO BID. Available is amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL. How many
mL will you administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT]
Rationale:
Step 1: Identify the formula — Desired (D) / Have (H) × Volume (V) = Amount to administer
Step 2: D = 500 mg / H = 250 mg × V = 5 mL
Step 3: 500 ÷ 250 = 2
Step 4: 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL
Common error leading to distractor A: Used 250 mg/5 mL but only gave 5 mL (forgot to multiply by the
ratio result).
Common error leading to distractor C: Added 500 + 250 = 750, then divided incorrectly.
Common error leading to distractor D: Used 500 mg as if it were the concentration instead of the dose.
Q2: The provider orders levothyroxine 0.075 mg PO daily. Available tablets are 75 mcg. How many
tablets will you administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
,C. 2 tablets
D. 3 tablets
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT]
Rationale:
Step 1: Convert mg to mcg — 0.075 mg × 1,000 = 75 mcg
Step 2: D = 75 mcg / H = 75 mcg = 1 tablet
Common error leading to distractor A: Converted incorrectly (0.075 mg = 75 mcg but thought it was
half).
Common error leading to distractor C: Multiplied 0.075 × 1,000 = 75, then thought 75 ÷ 75 = 2 (double-
counted).
Common error leading to distractor D: Failed to convert and treated 0.075 mg as 75 mg, requiring
multiple tablets.
Q3: The physician orders digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily. Available is digoxin elixir 0.05 mg/mL. How many
mL will you administer?
A. 1.5 mL
B. 2.0 mL
C. 2.5 mL
D. 3.0 mL
Correct Answer: C [CORRECT]
Rationale:
Step 1: D = 0.125 mg / H = 0.05 mg/mL
Step 2: 0.125 ÷ 0.05 = 2.5 mL
Common error leading to distractor A: Divided 0.05 ÷ 0.125 = 0.4, then multiplied incorrectly.
Common error leading to distractor B: Rounded down prematurely or used 0.1 mg instead of 0.125 mg.
Common error leading to distractor D: Added 0.125 + 0.05 = 0.175, then estimated.
Q4: The provider orders penicillin V potassium 400,000 units PO q6h. Available suspension is 200,000
units/5 mL. How many mL per dose?
A. 5 mL
B. 8 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 15 mL
, Correct Answer: C [CORRECT]
Rationale:
Step 1: D = 400,000 units / H = 200,000 units × V = 5 mL
Step 2: 400,000 ÷ 200,000 = 2
Step 3: 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL
Common error leading to distractor A: Gave the volume of the concentration (5 mL) without calculating
the ratio.
Common error leading to distractor B: Approximated 400,000 ÷ 200,000 as 1.5 instead of 2.
Common error leading to distractor D: Multiplied 400,000 × 5 = 2,000,000, then divided by 200,000 = 10,
but added an extra step.
Q5: The physician orders metformin 1,000 mg PO BID. Available tablets are 500 mg and 850 mg. Which
combination is most appropriate, and how many tablets total per day?
A. Two 500 mg tablets per dose; 4 tablets/day
B. One 850 mg tablet per dose; 2 tablets/day
C. One 500 mg + one 850 mg per dose; 4 tablets/day
D. Two 850 mg tablets per dose; 4 tablets/day
Correct Answer: A [CORRECT]
Rationale:
Step 1: Dose needed = 1,000 mg per dose
Step 2: 1,000 mg ÷ 500 mg = 2 tablets per dose
Step 3: BID = 2 doses/day; 2 × 2 = 4 tablets/day
Step 4: Option B gives only 850 mg (underdose). Option C gives 1,350 mg (overdose). Option D gives
1,700 mg (overdose).
Common error leading to distractor B: Selected the larger tablet without verifying it meets the exact
dose.
Common error leading to distractor C: Added tablet strengths without realizing it exceeds the ordered
dose.
Common error leading to distractor D: Doubled the larger tablet without calculating total milligrams.
Q6: The provider orders phenytoin suspension 200 mg PO now. Available is phenytoin 125 mg/5 mL.
How many mL will you administer? (Round to the nearest tenth.)
A. 6.0 mL
B. 7.5 mL
Exam ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 | Dosage
Calculation Review | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
SECTION 1: ORAL MEDICATIONS (Q1–Q10)
Q1: The physician orders amoxicillin 500 mg PO BID. Available is amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL. How many
mL will you administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT]
Rationale:
Step 1: Identify the formula — Desired (D) / Have (H) × Volume (V) = Amount to administer
Step 2: D = 500 mg / H = 250 mg × V = 5 mL
Step 3: 500 ÷ 250 = 2
Step 4: 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL
Common error leading to distractor A: Used 250 mg/5 mL but only gave 5 mL (forgot to multiply by the
ratio result).
Common error leading to distractor C: Added 500 + 250 = 750, then divided incorrectly.
Common error leading to distractor D: Used 500 mg as if it were the concentration instead of the dose.
Q2: The provider orders levothyroxine 0.075 mg PO daily. Available tablets are 75 mcg. How many
tablets will you administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
,C. 2 tablets
D. 3 tablets
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT]
Rationale:
Step 1: Convert mg to mcg — 0.075 mg × 1,000 = 75 mcg
Step 2: D = 75 mcg / H = 75 mcg = 1 tablet
Common error leading to distractor A: Converted incorrectly (0.075 mg = 75 mcg but thought it was
half).
Common error leading to distractor C: Multiplied 0.075 × 1,000 = 75, then thought 75 ÷ 75 = 2 (double-
counted).
Common error leading to distractor D: Failed to convert and treated 0.075 mg as 75 mg, requiring
multiple tablets.
Q3: The physician orders digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily. Available is digoxin elixir 0.05 mg/mL. How many
mL will you administer?
A. 1.5 mL
B. 2.0 mL
C. 2.5 mL
D. 3.0 mL
Correct Answer: C [CORRECT]
Rationale:
Step 1: D = 0.125 mg / H = 0.05 mg/mL
Step 2: 0.125 ÷ 0.05 = 2.5 mL
Common error leading to distractor A: Divided 0.05 ÷ 0.125 = 0.4, then multiplied incorrectly.
Common error leading to distractor B: Rounded down prematurely or used 0.1 mg instead of 0.125 mg.
Common error leading to distractor D: Added 0.125 + 0.05 = 0.175, then estimated.
Q4: The provider orders penicillin V potassium 400,000 units PO q6h. Available suspension is 200,000
units/5 mL. How many mL per dose?
A. 5 mL
B. 8 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 15 mL
, Correct Answer: C [CORRECT]
Rationale:
Step 1: D = 400,000 units / H = 200,000 units × V = 5 mL
Step 2: 400,000 ÷ 200,000 = 2
Step 3: 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL
Common error leading to distractor A: Gave the volume of the concentration (5 mL) without calculating
the ratio.
Common error leading to distractor B: Approximated 400,000 ÷ 200,000 as 1.5 instead of 2.
Common error leading to distractor D: Multiplied 400,000 × 5 = 2,000,000, then divided by 200,000 = 10,
but added an extra step.
Q5: The physician orders metformin 1,000 mg PO BID. Available tablets are 500 mg and 850 mg. Which
combination is most appropriate, and how many tablets total per day?
A. Two 500 mg tablets per dose; 4 tablets/day
B. One 850 mg tablet per dose; 2 tablets/day
C. One 500 mg + one 850 mg per dose; 4 tablets/day
D. Two 850 mg tablets per dose; 4 tablets/day
Correct Answer: A [CORRECT]
Rationale:
Step 1: Dose needed = 1,000 mg per dose
Step 2: 1,000 mg ÷ 500 mg = 2 tablets per dose
Step 3: BID = 2 doses/day; 2 × 2 = 4 tablets/day
Step 4: Option B gives only 850 mg (underdose). Option C gives 1,350 mg (overdose). Option D gives
1,700 mg (overdose).
Common error leading to distractor B: Selected the larger tablet without verifying it meets the exact
dose.
Common error leading to distractor C: Added tablet strengths without realizing it exceeds the ordered
dose.
Common error leading to distractor D: Doubled the larger tablet without calculating total milligrams.
Q6: The provider orders phenytoin suspension 200 mg PO now. Available is phenytoin 125 mg/5 mL.
How many mL will you administer? (Round to the nearest tenth.)
A. 6.0 mL
B. 7.5 mL
