HESI Dosage Calculations Exam, Hesi
Pharmacology Review questions and
answers 2026 update
. 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"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 100kg
= 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.
.
. 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"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.
.
. 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"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.
,.
. 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, 1"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.
.
. 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"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.
.
. 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"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.
.
. 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"Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1ml
2X = 4 X = 2
.
. 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, 1"Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10
mcg : 1ml 10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
.
. 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"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
.
Pharmacology Review questions and
answers 2026 update
. 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"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 100kg
= 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.
.
. 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"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.
.
. 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"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.
,.
. 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, 1"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.
.
. 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"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.
.
. 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"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.
.
. 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"Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1ml
2X = 4 X = 2
.
. 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, 1"Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10
mcg : 1ml 10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
.
. 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"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
.
