Dosage Calculations Exam –
Questions and Answers Rated
A+, Updated 2023
, 1. The healthcare provider prescribes a continuous infusion of 5% dextrose in 0.45%
sodium chloride at 85 ml/hour. The IV administration set delivers 10 gtt/ml. The nurse
should regulate the drop rate to deliver how many gtts/minute? (Enter numeric value
only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)
Answer: Volume/Time (minutes) x drop factor (gtt/ml) = 85 ml/ 60 minutes x 10 gtt/ml = 14.16 =
14 gtt/minute
2. A client receives a prescription for tobramycin sulfate (Nebcin) 0.128 grams IV q8 hours.
Tobramycin is available in liquid concentration of 40 mg/ml. How many ml should the
practical nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to
the nearest tenth.)
Answer : First using the known conversion:
1 gram = 1000 mg = 0.128 gram = 128 mg
Next use the Desired/Have x 1 ml =
128 mg/40 mg x 1ml = 3.2 ml
3. A client returning from surgery has a prescription for an IV of 09% sodium chloride to be
infused at 250 ml over 3 hours. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver
how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest whole number.)
Answer: 250 ml :3 hours X 1 hour
250/X :3/1
250: 3X
X=83 ml/hour
4. A client scheduled for surgery is to receive an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride with
prochlorperazine edisylate (Compazine) 10 mg/50 ml over 30 minutes. The nurse should
program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only.)
Answer: Calculate: 50 ml : 30 minutes :: X ml : 60 minutes 50/X :: 30/60 3000 = 15X X = 100
ml
5. The healthcare provider prescribes a continuous infusion of dextrose 5% in water with
isoproterenol (Isuprel) 2 mg in 500 ml at a rate of 5 mcg/minute for a client with cardiac
arrhythmia. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest hundredth.)
Answer: First using the known conversion 1 mg = 1000 micrograms.
Next, calculate the number of micrograms in solution: 1mg = 1000 mcg :: 2 mg = 2000
mcg
Then calculate how many ml of solution contain 5 mcg dose/minute: 2000 mcg :
500ml :: 5 mcg : X ml
2000/5 :: 500/X
Questions and Answers Rated
A+, Updated 2023
, 1. The healthcare provider prescribes a continuous infusion of 5% dextrose in 0.45%
sodium chloride at 85 ml/hour. The IV administration set delivers 10 gtt/ml. The nurse
should regulate the drop rate to deliver how many gtts/minute? (Enter numeric value
only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)
Answer: Volume/Time (minutes) x drop factor (gtt/ml) = 85 ml/ 60 minutes x 10 gtt/ml = 14.16 =
14 gtt/minute
2. A client receives a prescription for tobramycin sulfate (Nebcin) 0.128 grams IV q8 hours.
Tobramycin is available in liquid concentration of 40 mg/ml. How many ml should the
practical nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to
the nearest tenth.)
Answer : First using the known conversion:
1 gram = 1000 mg = 0.128 gram = 128 mg
Next use the Desired/Have x 1 ml =
128 mg/40 mg x 1ml = 3.2 ml
3. A client returning from surgery has a prescription for an IV of 09% sodium chloride to be
infused at 250 ml over 3 hours. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver
how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the
nearest whole number.)
Answer: 250 ml :3 hours X 1 hour
250/X :3/1
250: 3X
X=83 ml/hour
4. A client scheduled for surgery is to receive an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride with
prochlorperazine edisylate (Compazine) 10 mg/50 ml over 30 minutes. The nurse should
program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only.)
Answer: Calculate: 50 ml : 30 minutes :: X ml : 60 minutes 50/X :: 30/60 3000 = 15X X = 100
ml
5. The healthcare provider prescribes a continuous infusion of dextrose 5% in water with
isoproterenol (Isuprel) 2 mg in 500 ml at a rate of 5 mcg/minute for a client with cardiac
arrhythmia. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest hundredth.)
Answer: First using the known conversion 1 mg = 1000 micrograms.
Next, calculate the number of micrograms in solution: 1mg = 1000 mcg :: 2 mg = 2000
mcg
Then calculate how many ml of solution contain 5 mcg dose/minute: 2000 mcg :
500ml :: 5 mcg : X ml
2000/5 :: 500/X
