1
HESI A2 Exam Bank on Time Calculations in Medication Administration
, 2
Subtopic 1: Interpreting and Calculating Dosage
Schedules Based on Time Intervals
Questions 1–20
1. A medication is prescribed to be taken every 6 hours. If the first dose is administered at
0800, when should the fourth dose be administered?
A. 1400
B. 2000
C. 0200
D. 0000
Correct Answer: C. 0200
Rationale: Doses every 6 hours means the sequence is: 0800, 1400, 2000, and 0200 (next
day). Time calculation must consider the 24-hour format for accuracy in clinical settings.
2. A nurse administers a medication at 1000. The order states to give the medication every
8 hours. What time will the next dose be?
A. 1600
B. 1800
C. 2000
D. 2200
Correct Answer: B. 1800
Rationale: 1000 + 8 hours = 1800. Time interval calculations require accurate addition of
hours, particularly across standard shifts.
3. A medication order states "give every 12 hours." If the first dose was given at 0730, what
time is the second dose due?
A. 1930
B. 1930
, 3
C. 0700
D. 0830
Correct Answer: B. 1930
Rationale: 0730 + 12 hours = 1930. Accurate tracking of 12-hour intervals is essential for
medications with long half-lives or potential toxicity.
4. A patient is receiving IV antibiotics every 4 hours. If the last dose was given at 0230, what
time is the next dose?
A. 0600
B. 0630
C. 0700
D. 0730
Correct Answer: B. 0630
Rationale: 0230 + 4 hours = 0630. Short intervals must be precisely monitored to maintain
therapeutic blood levels.
5. A PRN pain medication can be given every 3 hours. It was last administered at 1245.
When is the earliest the next dose can be given?
A. 1445
B. 1545
C. 1645
D. 1745
Correct Answer: B. 1545
Rationale: 1245 + 3 hours = 1545. PRN medications require clear tracking to avoid
overdosing.
6. A medication is ordered TID (three times daily) and the first dose is given at 0600. What
are the approximate times for the next two doses?
, 4
A. 1200 and 1800
B. 0900 and 2100
C. 1400 and 2200
D. 1100 and 1700
Correct Answer: A. 1200 and 1800
Rationale: TID generally follows an even spacing across waking hours—every 6 hours when
not specified (0600, 1200, 1800).
7. A nurse needs to administer medication every 36 hours. If the first dose is given at 0900
on Monday, when is the next dose due?
A. Tuesday 0900
B. Tuesday 2100
C. Wednesday 2100
D. Wednesday 0900
Correct Answer: C. Wednesday 2100
Rationale: 36 hours after 0900 Monday is 2100 on Tuesday + 12 more hours = 2100 on
Wednesday.
8. A patient is receiving medication QID (four times daily). If the first dose is given at 0600,
what are the approximate times for the remaining doses?
A. 1000, 1400, 1800
B. 0900, 1300, 1700
C. 1200, 1800, 0000
D. 1100, 1500, 1900
Correct Answer: C. 1200, 1800, 0000
Rationale: QID means every 6 hours if evenly spaced: 0600, 1200, 1800, 0000.
HESI A2 Exam Bank on Time Calculations in Medication Administration
, 2
Subtopic 1: Interpreting and Calculating Dosage
Schedules Based on Time Intervals
Questions 1–20
1. A medication is prescribed to be taken every 6 hours. If the first dose is administered at
0800, when should the fourth dose be administered?
A. 1400
B. 2000
C. 0200
D. 0000
Correct Answer: C. 0200
Rationale: Doses every 6 hours means the sequence is: 0800, 1400, 2000, and 0200 (next
day). Time calculation must consider the 24-hour format for accuracy in clinical settings.
2. A nurse administers a medication at 1000. The order states to give the medication every
8 hours. What time will the next dose be?
A. 1600
B. 1800
C. 2000
D. 2200
Correct Answer: B. 1800
Rationale: 1000 + 8 hours = 1800. Time interval calculations require accurate addition of
hours, particularly across standard shifts.
3. A medication order states "give every 12 hours." If the first dose was given at 0730, what
time is the second dose due?
A. 1930
B. 1930
, 3
C. 0700
D. 0830
Correct Answer: B. 1930
Rationale: 0730 + 12 hours = 1930. Accurate tracking of 12-hour intervals is essential for
medications with long half-lives or potential toxicity.
4. A patient is receiving IV antibiotics every 4 hours. If the last dose was given at 0230, what
time is the next dose?
A. 0600
B. 0630
C. 0700
D. 0730
Correct Answer: B. 0630
Rationale: 0230 + 4 hours = 0630. Short intervals must be precisely monitored to maintain
therapeutic blood levels.
5. A PRN pain medication can be given every 3 hours. It was last administered at 1245.
When is the earliest the next dose can be given?
A. 1445
B. 1545
C. 1645
D. 1745
Correct Answer: B. 1545
Rationale: 1245 + 3 hours = 1545. PRN medications require clear tracking to avoid
overdosing.
6. A medication is ordered TID (three times daily) and the first dose is given at 0600. What
are the approximate times for the next two doses?
, 4
A. 1200 and 1800
B. 0900 and 2100
C. 1400 and 2200
D. 1100 and 1700
Correct Answer: A. 1200 and 1800
Rationale: TID generally follows an even spacing across waking hours—every 6 hours when
not specified (0600, 1200, 1800).
7. A nurse needs to administer medication every 36 hours. If the first dose is given at 0900
on Monday, when is the next dose due?
A. Tuesday 0900
B. Tuesday 2100
C. Wednesday 2100
D. Wednesday 0900
Correct Answer: C. Wednesday 2100
Rationale: 36 hours after 0900 Monday is 2100 on Tuesday + 12 more hours = 2100 on
Wednesday.
8. A patient is receiving medication QID (four times daily). If the first dose is given at 0600,
what are the approximate times for the remaining doses?
A. 1000, 1400, 1800
B. 0900, 1300, 1700
C. 1200, 1800, 0000
D. 1100, 1500, 1900
Correct Answer: C. 1200, 1800, 0000
Rationale: QID means every 6 hours if evenly spaced: 0600, 1200, 1800, 0000.
