NCLEX Dosage Calculation Practice
Questions (Part 1: 20 Items)
1. 1. Question
You are caring for a patient at home who must take magnesium
hydroxide/aluminum hydroxide (Maalox) 30 mL PO. How will you
instruct the patient to measure the dose using ordinary household
measuring devices? Fill in the blanks. Record your answer to the
nearest whole number.
o Answer: (2) tbsp.
Incorrect
Correct answer:
2 tbsp.
Rationale:
One tablespoon is equal to 15 mL.
Convert 30 mL to tablespoons by multiplying it by one
tablespoon.
Then, divide 30 by 15 mL to get the final answer of 2 tbsp.
Computation:
2. 2. Question
A patient has a bottle of warfarin (Coumadin) 5 mg tablets at home.
After his most recent international normalized ratio (INR), the doctor
calls and tells him to take 7.5 mg/day. How many tablets (scored)
should the patient take? Fill in the blanks and record your answer
using one decimal place.
Answer: (1.5) tablet(s)
Incorrect
Correct answer:
1.5 tablet
Formula:
Rationale:
, Use the standard formula above.
First, multiply the desired dose (7.5 mg) to the vehicle (1 tablet)
to get 7.5mg.
Then, divide 7.5 mg by the drug on hand (5 mg) to get 1.5
tablets.
Computation:
3. 3. Question
You have an IVPB of ranitidine (Zantac) 50 mg in 50 mL D5W to run
over 30 minutes. The tubing has a drip factor of 15. How many drops
per minute will you set on the IV infusion controller? Fill in the
blanks.
Answer: (25) gtts/minute
Incorrect
Correct answer:
25 gtts/minute
Formula:
Rationale:
Use the IV flow rate formula for gtts/minute above.
Multiply 50 mL (total volume) to 15 gtts (drop factor) to get 750
gtts.
Divide 750 gtts with 30 minutes (time in minutes) to get 25
gtts/minute.
Computation:
4. 4. Question
The physician orders alprazolam (Xanax) 0.5 mg PO. You have on hand
Xanax 0.25 mg tablets. How many tablet(s) will you give? Fill in the
blanks.
Answer: (2) tablets(s)
Incorrect
Correct answer:
Questions (Part 1: 20 Items)
1. 1. Question
You are caring for a patient at home who must take magnesium
hydroxide/aluminum hydroxide (Maalox) 30 mL PO. How will you
instruct the patient to measure the dose using ordinary household
measuring devices? Fill in the blanks. Record your answer to the
nearest whole number.
o Answer: (2) tbsp.
Incorrect
Correct answer:
2 tbsp.
Rationale:
One tablespoon is equal to 15 mL.
Convert 30 mL to tablespoons by multiplying it by one
tablespoon.
Then, divide 30 by 15 mL to get the final answer of 2 tbsp.
Computation:
2. 2. Question
A patient has a bottle of warfarin (Coumadin) 5 mg tablets at home.
After his most recent international normalized ratio (INR), the doctor
calls and tells him to take 7.5 mg/day. How many tablets (scored)
should the patient take? Fill in the blanks and record your answer
using one decimal place.
Answer: (1.5) tablet(s)
Incorrect
Correct answer:
1.5 tablet
Formula:
Rationale:
, Use the standard formula above.
First, multiply the desired dose (7.5 mg) to the vehicle (1 tablet)
to get 7.5mg.
Then, divide 7.5 mg by the drug on hand (5 mg) to get 1.5
tablets.
Computation:
3. 3. Question
You have an IVPB of ranitidine (Zantac) 50 mg in 50 mL D5W to run
over 30 minutes. The tubing has a drip factor of 15. How many drops
per minute will you set on the IV infusion controller? Fill in the
blanks.
Answer: (25) gtts/minute
Incorrect
Correct answer:
25 gtts/minute
Formula:
Rationale:
Use the IV flow rate formula for gtts/minute above.
Multiply 50 mL (total volume) to 15 gtts (drop factor) to get 750
gtts.
Divide 750 gtts with 30 minutes (time in minutes) to get 25
gtts/minute.
Computation:
4. 4. Question
The physician orders alprazolam (Xanax) 0.5 mg PO. You have on hand
Xanax 0.25 mg tablets. How many tablet(s) will you give? Fill in the
blanks.
Answer: (2) tablets(s)
Incorrect
Correct answer:
